As the voice of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Illinois, we are dedicated to connecting community residents with resources for health and wellbeing!

Our Mission

The Illinois Community Health Workers Association [ILCHWA] is the unified voice of Community Health Workers statewide . . . .

• Advocating for legislation, policies and practices that elevate the role of community health workers as the primary connection between the needs of community residents and the resources necessary to impact the broad array of social determinants of health and wellbeing
• Amplifying the collective capacity of community health workers in ways that contribute to their welfare, security, and sustainability
• Serving as a statewide clearinghouse and repository for relevant professional standards, legislation, policy, research, and promising practices
• Promoting professional development and certification of its members to ensure quality care and coordination
• Addressing workforce issues in a variety of workplace settings related to professional identity/classification, compensation, working conditions, etc.
  
  The Illinois Community Health Workers Association demonstrates its commitment to EQUITY by . .
  
• Focusing on prevention by providing culturally appropriate education, timely communications, comprehensive and responsive service delivery
• Mobilizing membership and other resources to tackle the root causes and conditions that result from systemic disparities and inequities, especially prevalent in communities of color
• Collaborating with a variety of stakeholders representing multiple systems to create positive outcomes related community health and wellbeing
• Challenging systems to acknowledge and address health disparities in BIPOC [black, indigenous, and people of color] communities

Our Vision

ILCHWA is A FULL-SERVICE MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION . . .

• Advocating for policies and best practices that positively impacts community health workers
• Connecting community health workers to resources to address the social determinants of health and wellbeing
• Amplifying the collective capacity of community health workers
• Serving as a statewide clearinghouse
• Promoting professional development and certification
• Addressing membership concerns through peer-to peer support and networking
  
  VALUES . . .
  
• Self Determination Community Health Workers shall determine the direction of the field. We will make the
• decisions concerning training and education best practices, policy development and define the field of community health workers.
• Advocacy Community Health Workers advocate for communities, individuals and the field of community health work. We develop the capacity of individuals and communities to advocate for themselves.
• Unity Community Health Workers regardless of discipline, region of the country, job title, and work within or outside of traditional systems are unified in our work to reduce disparities.
• Social Justice Community Health Workers are agents of change. We pursue social change through work with community members to improve social conditions.
• Integrity Community Health Workers strive for excellence by providing quality services and the most accurate information available to individuals and communities.

Our Strategic Imperatives

• Solidifying Membership
• Amplifying Voice & Engagement
• Strengthening Core Services and Allied Leadership

At ILCHWA, we believe in the power of community-driven health initiatives. Our motto, “Nothing About Us… Without Us,” reflects our commitment to ensuring that Community Health Workers are at the forefront of decision-making processes that affect their work and communities.

Join us in our mission to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities across Illinois. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our communities. Become a proud member of ILCHWA today and be part of a network dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing for all!