The Community Health Worker (CHW) Initiative provides a dedicated domain for community health workers and allies to access information at the local, state, and national levels. It also serves as the foundation for the
Mecklenburg County CHW Collaborative, a joint network whose goal is to strengthen the CHW workforce through collaboration, education, and mentorship.
Vision
To create a sustainable infrastructure that supports and values CHWs in Mecklenburg County.
What is a Community Health Worker?
"A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy."
- American Public Health Association Community Health Worker Section
Community Health Workers have many titles! These are just a few:
Bilingual Family Advocate
Care Coordinator
Community Aide
Community Care Worker
Community Connector
Community Health Coordinator
Community Health Navigator
Community Health Representative
Community Liaison
Community-Clinical Linkages Specialist
Diabetes Navigator
Family Advocate
Family Support Worker
Health Communicator
Health Information Specialist
HIV Peer Advocate
Homeless Advocate
Lay Health Advisor
Neighborhood Health Advocate
Outreach Coordinator
Peer Advocate/Leader
Promotora de Salud
Wellness Ambassadors
CHWs may work in:
Community Organizations
Faith-Based Organizations
Community Health Centers
Hospitals
Local Health Departments
Physician Offices
Food Pantries
Homeless Shelters
Refugee Camps
View the Final Report and Stakeholder Recommendations of the North Carolina Community Health Worker Initiative
here.
Contact
Keila Marlin, Health Manager, at
Keila.Marlin@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
Latest News
New Partnership Brings Support to Maternal and Child Health in Mecklenburg County (mecknc.gov)
Resources
National-Level
Community Health Workers (apha.org)
NACHW – National Association of Community Health Workers
State-Level
Community Health Workers | NCDHHS
North Carolina Community Health Worker Association | Home
Local-Level
TBA