Community Health Workers
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a public health worker who is a trusted member of the community. This trusting relationship allows for us to serve as a link between healthcare, social services and community members to increase access to services and improve health management.
In our role as CHWs we improve clients’ ability to manage their health through a series of activities including outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.
A CHW will work with you to:
- Provide personalized assistance to develop a health management plan
- Make sure that getting treatment goes smoothly
- Help you better understand your health
- Educate providers about your health needs
- Provide health education and information in a way that is easily understood
- Find the answers to your questions to help you make decisions which impact your health
- Provide informal counseling and social support
- Help you build your skills to better manage your health
- After your hospital stay, a CHW will visit you at your home to provide extra support. The CHW will bring various resources to help ensure you receive the services and support needed to improve your well-being.
Your CHW will help you:
- Connect to a primary care provider
- Communicate with doctors
- Learn about and engage with resources in the community
- Better manage your medical condition
- CHWs do not provide medical coverage, clinical advice or replace the need to follow up with your doctor.
Service Areas:
- Pittsylvania County
- Danville City
- Caswell County
- Martinsville City
- Henry County
- Patrick County
- Franklin County
- Grayson County
- Carroll County
- Galax City
Since CHWs typically reside in the community they serve, they have the unique ability to bring information where it is needed most. They can reach community residents where they live, eat, play, work, and worship. CHWs are frontline agents of change, helping to reduce health disparities in underserved communities.