Community Health Workers Help Wisconsinites Thrive

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is celebrating the impact of community health workers (CHWs) across Wisconsin with a new multimedia campaign designed to raise awareness about their contributions and highlight the benefits of supporting community health workers for organizations that work with them.

"Community health workers are a unique part of the statewide care network that is working to help people, families, and communities access the resources they need to be healthy," said DHS State Health Officer Paula Tran. "Through this campaign, we are celebrating the role community health workers play as trusted connectors, and raising awareness of the positive impact their work can bring to people and our entire state."

Throughout Wisconsin, CHWs connect people to health and social services that meet their individual needs. Often CHWs bring personal experience, along with expertise and training, to their work by living in the community and/or sharing an ethnicity, language, cultural and life experiences, and/or a socio-economic background with those they serve.

Today, CHWs are employed across the state at community-based organizations, local and Tribal health departments, schools, and health clinics. Several Wisconsin health systems and health insurance organizations are leading the way to work with community partners to support CHW services.

The media campaign, which includes videos featuring CHWs currently working in Dane, Wood, and Sheboygan counties, shows the various ways CHWs are helping their clients and the health care system achieve better outcomes.

"We know an individual's health is so much more than just going to the doctor for a check-up once a year," said DHS State Health Officer Paula Tran. "It's our goal to shine a light on how community health workers are critical access points to resources that address the well-being of the whole person. That includes everything from housing security and stable, family-supporting jobs, to solving transportation challenges, and improving prenatal care, nutrition, and early childhood literacy."

Organizations interested in building CHW programs can find resources and learn more about CHWs and their role in the community on the DHS website.