IPHI is a recognized leader in developing the community health worker (CHW) workforce and the design, implementation, and evaluation of CHW-based public health services across the region.
CHWs are trusted members of the communities in which they work. They often have lived experiences of their communities, which helps them serve as the liaisons between health/social services and the community. Imagine a doctor telling a patient, “Your comorbidities have exacerbated your condition…” While for some patients, this is plain language. Other patients could benefit from a CHW to “translate” the diagnosis into something easier to understand.
CHWs help clients find access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. CHWs also build individual and community capacity by helping clients improve health knowledge and self-sufficiency through outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
Here are our community health worker initiatives:
