Establishing a Professional Profile of Community Health Workers: Results from a National Study of Roles, Activities and Training

Authors: Ingram, Reinschmidt, Schachter, Davidson, Sabo, De Zapien and Carvajal

This paper presents results from the 2010 National Community Health Worker Advocacy Survey (NCHWAS) in an effort to strengthen a generalized understanding of the CHW profession that can be integrated into ongoing efforts to improve the health care delivery system. Results indicate that regardless of geographical location, work setting, and demographic characteristics, CHWs generally share similar professional characteristics, training preparation, and job activities. Descriptions of CHW activities documented in the survey demonstrate that CHWs apply core competencies in a synergistic manner in an effort to assure that their clients get the services they need. NCHWAS
findings suggest that over the past 50 years, the CHW field has become standardized in response to the unmet needs of their communities.