Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as frontline public health professionals with a deep understanding of the communities they support and are trusted members within them. Their ability to build strong relationships enables them to act as a vital link between health and social services, ensuring that individuals receive the care and support they need. By facilitating access to services and enhancing the quality and cultural competence of healthcare delivery, CHWs play a crucial role in improving community well-being. To be effective in this role, CHWs must receive formal training to develop the essential skills that allow them to navigate complex healthcare systems, communicate effectively, and advocate for their communities. In this blog, we will explore the essential skills every CHW must have to succeed in their mission of promoting health equity and improving lives.
Advocacy Skills/Capacity Building Skills
- Empowering Clients/Motivating them to manager their own health and advocate for themselves
- Helping clients and patients set and reach their goals
- Supporting behavior change
- Identifying and overcoming barriers
- Understanding community cultures and ways to reach members
Service Coordination and Navigation Skills
- Strengthen teamwork and collaboration with colleagues to ensure effective care delivery
- Acknowledge and leverage the value of support roles in case management
- Utilize community resources to enhance patient care and ensure comprehensive support
- Act as a liaison between the community and external resources, ensuring seamless coordination
- Manage cases efficiently from the initial contact through to follow-up, ensuring continuity of care
Communication Skills
- Listening/Speaking skills
- Building rapport
- Using nonverbal communication
- Resolving and avoiding conflict
- Understanding and working within culturally diverse communities
Community Outreach and Engagement
- Build and strengthen communities
- Sharing information about program and resources
- Creating and maintaining relationships with community members and partners
- Understand the needs of different populations
Cultural Competence and Responsiveness
- Understand the role culture plays in a person’s health, including: behaviors, language, customs, beliefs, and perspectives
- Learn culturally appropriate and respectful ways of communicating
- Use empathy to build meaningful connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Provide healthcare services tailored to the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients to help prevent health disparities.
- Foster strong relationships with partners and colleagues to ensure the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
Understanding of Health Systems and Basic Disease
- Develop a solid understanding of the local health insurance system and its structure
- Help patients navigate the complexities of health insurance to ensure they access the care they need
- Connect community members with the most appropriate resources, highlighting the importance of preventive care for long-term health
- Provide clear and accurate information about different types of insurance, medical services available, and potential costs
- Educate individuals on the legal and technical aspects of the healthcare system to enhance their ability to make informed decisions
Presentation and Facilitation Skills
- Simplify complex topics and present them in a clear, accessible way for diverse audiences
- Collect and share relevant health information effectively with community members
- Plan, organize, and facilitate engaging health education sessions tailored to specific community needs
- Integrate cultural context to ensure the information is both accurate and relevant
- Assess audience understanding throughout the presentation to gauge engagement and inform future sessions
Organizational Skills
- Manage schedules, shifts, and reporting to maintain effective communication with supervisors and team members
- Set and plan goals for individuals and the organization while considering priorities, budget, and other factors
- Foster a supportive and communicative workplace environment
- Coordinate internal and external events, including workshops, outreach programs, and educational presentations
- Oversee project development to ensure priorities and objectives are met efficiently
Capacity Building
- Support team and community members in recognizing and utilizing their strengths
- Empower individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being
- Foster connections, support networks, and allyship within the community
- Guide individuals in self-advocacy through education and empowerment
- Confidently lead community initiatives and identify local leaders, providing them with the necessary support
Interpersonal Skills and Relationship Building
- Develop strong communication skills to foster positive, productive relationships
- Cultivate empathy and active listening to understand and respond to others’ needs
- Build trust and rapport with individuals and teams to enhance collaboration
- Navigate and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner
- Maintain professionalism in all interactions while adhering to ethical standards
- Commit to ongoing personal growth through learning and development opportunities
Public Health Knowledge
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the public health system and its structure
- Recognize the crucial role and responsibilities of CHWs as frontline health professionals
- Identify community challenges and opportunities by addressing the four pillars of public health
- Blend theoretical knowledge with culturally relevant experiences to gain a deeper understanding of public health at the local level
- Examine the complex nature and root causes of major health challenges today, and explore how they impact healthcare services and populations
Mastering these skills is key to excelling as a CHW. For those looking to take the next step in their career, becoming a certified CHW in Illinois is a great option. In our next blog, we’ll explore the certification pathways available.
Other Referrals
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- American Public Health Association
- CHW Training
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