Community Health Workers

Calling all community health workers 

Adult completing a survey on a laptop

Help connect people to CHWs in their community. Complete our brief survey to enhance how community members find you.

Community health workers' role in public health

Community health workers (CHW) are an important part of Wisconsin's public health and health care systems.

They are the bridge between you and resources available in your community.

The Chronic Disease Prevention Program collaborates with partners to advance the sustainability and integration of the CHW workforce to promote equity and positive health outcomes for people in Wisconsin.


What is a community health worker?

Photo of Olga, a community health worker

CHWs, are the bridge that connect people to care and resources to help them be healthy. CHWs are community members who have lived experience in overcoming barriers to access, navigating systems, and using resources in the communities they serve. The primary goal of a CHW is to improve health outcomes of people in their communities.

CHWs can be found working in many different places like health departments, community organizations, hospitals, clinics, and schools. CHWs work under different job titles, including promotores(as) de salud, community health representatives, doulas, neighborhood navigators, patient navigators, and peer educators, just to name a few.

How to connect with a community health worker in your community

  • Ask your provider or local health department to connect you with a CHW
  • If your provider or health department isn’t familiar with CHWs or the impact of their work, you can share this page with them
  • For more information or questions about CHWs, you can contact DHSCommunityHealthWorkers@dhs.wisconsin.gov

What does a community health worker do?

Help people access care and social services

A CHW can work alongside a community member to remove obstacles that get in the way of being the healthiest they can be. Some of these barriers might be related to transportation, housing, or access to healthy foods. CHWs can also help people learn how to navigate health and social service systems, so they can connect to the care and resources they need to stay healthy.

Advocate for people and their community

CHWs are members of the same communities they serve and have often had to deal with some of the same challenges that their clients are facing. This means they have a connection and understanding of the community.

When community members do not have the resources needed to be healthy, CHWs can advocate for resources the community needs to thrive.

Promote resilience in communities statewide

When community members have the power and knowledge to navigate the systems and access the resources they need to be healthy, this creates resilience and allows them to thrive. Through their work, CHWs help build resilience in communities and community members. This resilience helps reduce the impact of COVID-19 and/or future public health emergencies.

How do community health workers make a difference in their communities?

Group of smiling people waving

Community health workers across the nation

CHWs have been active in the United States for many decades. Before CHWs were hired in formal CHW positions, specialized health workers were making a positive impact in their communities by doing much of the same work that CHWs do today. Over the decades, the CHW workforce has continued to evolve and expand. CHWs have also formally organized themselves and advocated to professionalize CHW work.

Wisconsin efforts in supporting community health workers

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has used grant awards to support CHW work to improve health outcomes for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma, HIV, and maternal and child health. There are a growing number of other programs and units within DHS that engage CHWs in their work.


Community health worker success stories in Wisconsin


Resources for education, awareness, and promotion

Use these resources to learn about CHWs and answer the question “what does a CHW do?” Leverage our library of free resources to promote your own CHW program and/or to educate people on the benefits of investing in CHWs. Check out our specially designed toolkits with ready to use and customizable materials. In addition to the toolkits, we have videos featuring actual CHWs from Wisconsin. Simply download and use for presentations, at events, on websites, social media platforms, and more.

Community Health Worker Toolkit: Resources to build the understanding of community health workers' work in your community

Community Health Workers Gain Support - Infographic Thumbnail

The toolkit provides materials community health workers can use to raise awareness and educate the public about your important work.

Some materials are ready-to-use, while others can be customized for your unique message.

Use what works best for you, but feel free to customize the materials we’ve provided as a template.

Contents of toolkit

Use this to make an introduction to people who need to know about CHWs and what they do. Print it, post it, or email it!

Community Health Worker Toolkit for the General Population one-page fact sheet, P-03563A, available in English, Hmong, and Spanish.

Sharing tip sheet, P-03563b, available in English, Hmong, and Spanish. Get tips and best practices on how to reach your community and get your message out

Posters, P-03563c. available in English, Hmong, and Spanish. Use this ready-made poster to raise general awareness about who CHWs are and what they do.

Use this to help raise awareness and show your support right on your profile picture. Ask your friends and family to follow suit!

Posts for Facebook or Instagram. Use these to increase your reach through social media. Share your success stories and encourage your clients to share their positive experiences. Remember to encourage likes and shares!

“I am a community health worker”

“I support community health workers”

“I ally with community health workers”

Use this background to raise awareness and show your support during Zoom meetings with clients, coworkers, family, or friends.

Community Health Worker Toolkit for Wisconsin Policy Makers and Community Leadership

Resources to implement and promote community health workers and community health worker programs

Community Health Worker screenshot of Key Decision Maker Summary

The toolkit provides guides and materials that you can use to raise awareness and help educate potential advocates about community health workers.

Some materials are ready-to-use, and others can be used as a guide to maximize your reach and message.

Use what works best for you, but feel free to customize the materials we’ve provided as a template.

Contents of toolkit
Community Health Worker Key Decision Maker PowerPoint Slide-1-thumbnail

Use this customizable PowerPoint template (PDF) to make formal presentations to key stakeholders and organizations. We’ve provided several useful slides and talking tips, but you can easily make this your own.

Email staff at DHSCommunityHealthWorkers@dhs.wisconsin.gov for a copy of the PowerPoint slides - available in English, Hmong, and Spanish.

Use this ready-made flyer, P03562a available in English, Hmong, and Spanish to show how community health workers and health care partnerships make a positive impact.

Advocacy flyer, P-03562b available in English, Hmong, and Spanish.

Use this as a step-by-step guide to identify potential advocates and deliver your message with an impact.

Community Health Worker screenshot of key decision maker summary thumbnail page 2

Add this instruction sheet to your organization’s website and encourage your partners to do the same. Instructions for adding a button to a website, P-03562c in English, Hmong, and Spanish

Needing original files? Reach out!

If you would like access to the original files, contact us today at DHSCommunityHealthWorkers@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Community health worker videos and additional resources

Community health worker videos

Enjoy videos of CHWs from across the state of Wisconsin and learn how they are making a positive impact on the health of their communities. View them, share them, or download them - choose the options that fit your situation. Download a high-quality copy of the videos from our Vimeo page.

Hear from CHWs Blanca, CherPao, Darreon, and Olga and discover all the unique ways each one is making a difference.

Blanca: Answering the Call of a Community
CherPao: Caring for the Hmong Community
Darreon: A CHW Superhero
Olga-Giving Hope to the Hispanic Community

Watch these videos in Hmong of CHWs Chia and CherPao. Learn how Chia in Wood County and CherPao in Sheboygan County are working to make a difference.

Watch these videos in Spanish of CHWs Olga and Blanca. Learn how Olga in Wood County and Blanca in the Madison area are working to make a difference.

Advertising

Consider using digital advertising tools to amplify the message about CHWs.

Use these banner ads for digital campaigns to acknowledge and thank CHWs for their work. These make great tools to generate interest if you’re hosting a big event such as a health fair or celebrating an awareness day. Right click the image to copy it.

“My CHW connects me with care”

Mobile

Ad with text against a blue background reading, "My Community Health Worker Connects Me With Care."

300 x 250

Banner add showing blue text against a blue background reading "My Community Health Worker connects me with care. What can they connect you with?"

300 x 600

Portrait sized ad showing red text against a blue background reading "My Community Health Worker Connects Me with Care. What can  they connect  you with?" thank you banner ad 300x600 number 2

728 x 90

Ad with text against a blue background reading, "My Community Health Worker connects me with care."

“Thank you CHWs”

Mobile

Ad with text reading, "Thank you Community Health Workers,"

300 x 250

Banner ad showing blue text against a blue background reading "Thank you! Community Health Workers. Our bridge to better health and resources."

300 x 600

Banner add showing blue text against a blue background with text reading "Thank you! Community health workers. Our bridge to better health and resources."

728 x 90

Ad with text against a blue background reading, "Thank you Community Health Workers. Our bridge to better health and resources."

Right click the desired image to copy it.

Instagram

Thank You CHWs

Instagram post showing a drawing of to hands intertwined with text against a blue background reading, "Thank you Community Health Workers."

I found a health ally

Instagram post showing a drawing of to hands intertwined with text against a blue background reading, "I Found A Health Ally"

Facebook

Thank You CHWs

Facebook post showing a drawing of 2 hands intertwined with text against a blue background reading, "Thank you Community Health Workers."

I found a health ally

Social media post showing a drawing to hands intertwined with text against a blue background reading, "I Found a Health Ally."

Use these photos of actual community health workers to add authenticity to your CHW materials. Right click the desired image to copy it.

Blanca

Photo of Blanca, a Community Health Worker

CherPao

Photo of Cher Pao, a Community Health Worker

Chia

Community Health Worker Chia Lor

Darreon

Photo of Darreon, a Community Health Worker

Olga

Photo of Olga, a community health worker

Add these images to your promotional items, like t-shirts or coffee tumblers, to thank CHWs for the work they do for our communities. Right click the directed image to copy it.

"Thank You CHWs" blue and white

Community Health Worker Thank You Mug Imprint Multi-Color 3.5x4

"Thanks You CHWs" multicolor

Community Health Worker Thank You Tote Bag Full Color Graphic 8x10
Questions? Reach out

If you would like access to these or need any assistance with the promotional resources, contact us today at DHSCommunityHealthWorkers@dhs.wisconsin.gov.


How can community health workers help lower health care costs?

Health care costs going up.

When CHWs are part of care teams, there is a history of lower health care costs. Community members living with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV, or asthma will need to learn how to manage the condition(s) in order to live well. It can be hard to figure out how to manage a condition along with all the other things in life. CHWs can help community members create a self-management plan for their condition(s) that fits into their lives. When a condition is well-managed, it is less likely to result in visits to the emergency department or having to stay overnight at the hospital. This means better health for community members and lower healthcare costs overall.

Research studies have shown that CHWs are a good financial “return on investment.” View a summary of research studies that show the effectiveness of CHWs across multiple settings and health conditions.

Learn more about community health workers

  • Envision Equity – CHW training and technical assistance center
  • NACHW (National Association of Community Health Workers) – Webinars, CHW toolkits, advocacy, and learning opportunities. Convenes a national CHW conference
  • CCHA - Center for Community Health Alignment - at the University of South Carolina. CHW best practice toolkits, CHW training, and more
  • Penn Center for Community Health Workers – at the University of Pennsylvania. CHW research, training and education, and consultation
  • CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – CHW toolkit, policy resources, and peer-reviewed journal articles
  • Definition of a community health worker - the American Public Health Association

  • Great Rivers HUB – in-person core competency training in the La Crosse area
  • Milwaukee AHEC (Area Health Education Center)– Virtual CHW core competency training
  • Unite WI – in-person core competency training in Milwaukee
  • CHW Training Program – a workforce development initiative to increase the number of CHWs across Wisconsin. Trainees participating in core competency training, that follows a validated curriculum, may be eligible for financial support.

  • NASHP (National Academy for State Health Policy) - state-by-state details on CHW certification & training, services & reimbursement, and legislation
  • APHA (American Public Health Association) CHW member section, convene an annual meeting
  • Pathways Community HUB Institute – a model for CHW work that focuses on building a sustainable community-based care coordination network
  • Financing Strategies to Support the CHW Workforce - 2019 presentation from ASTHO reviewing the different options available to finance CHW work, including managed care contracts, State Plan Amendments, Medicaid fee schedules, and including in core operating budgets
  • Sustainable Financing of CHW Employment - 2020 brief from The National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW).
  • MHP Salud – non-profit organization that provides training, consulting, and support to CHW programs. Content available in Spanish and English
  • WPHA (Wisconsin Public Health Association) – CHW section with CHW representatives from Wisconsin, convene an annual public health conference

Subscribe to our newsletter

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Contact us for more information

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Chronic Disease Prevention Program
1 West Wilson St.
Madison, WI 53701-2659
DHSCommunityHealthWorkers@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Glossary

 
Last revised August 28, 2024