A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a unique understanding of the community served. This relationship allows the CHW to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
To learn more about efforts to support and sustain the Community Health Worker (CHW) profession in South Dakota, please visit the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota's (CHWSD) website or email info@chwsd.org.