Key points
- Community health workers (CHWs) can help people manage chronic diseases and get the health services they need by breaking down barriers to care related to social determinants of health.
- The resources on this page can support CHWs as they serve communities, and guide health care providers, health systems, community organizations, and others in working with CHWs more effectively.
Overview
A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who lives in or is trusted by the community. A CHW connects people to health and social services by breaking down barriers related to the social determinants of health.
The following audiences are most likely to find these resources useful:
- CHWs, who might be known by other names (e.g., promotores de salud, coaches, lay health advisors, community health representatives, peer mentors, peer navigators).
- Certified educators, who might be CHWs or belong to another allied clinical group.
- Community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations and other community groups that work with or host CHWs.
- Health insurers, purchasers, and payers―including Medicaid, Medicare, commercial insurers, and employers―who have questions about reimbursing for the services that CHWs provide.
- Health care providers, who want to incorporate CHWs into their practices.
- Public health professionals who work with CHWs and other groups listed here.
If you identify a CDC resource not listed here, see an error, or have additional feedback, please email the Community Health Worker Workgroup.
Resources by topic
CDC's National Asthma Control Program Evaluation Resources
This web page hosts evaluation resources relevant to asthma and other public health programs. The document "Learning As We Grow: Evaluation Highlights from National Asthma Control Program Grantees" is part of the materials on this page.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: National Asthma Control Program
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of home-based multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus for children and adolescents with asthma to improve overall quality of life and productivity. These interventions involve home visits by trained personnel who may be CHWs. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, National Asthma Control Program
This article focused on how state health agencies and ASTHO members can further bolster the sustainability of patient navigator and community health worker programs to support health reform and improve health outcomes for all populations.
Type of Resource: Report
Language: English
Audiences: Community-based organizations, health insurers, purchasers, and payers, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Cancer Prevention and Control
AMIGAS is a bilingual educational outreach intervention designed to help promotoras ( CHWs) and other lay health educators increase cervical cancer screening among Hispanics who have rarely or never had a Pap test.
Type of Resource: Educational materials
Language: English, Spanish
Audiences: Certified educators, community health workers, community-based organizations, NGOs, general public, healthcare providers
Related CDC programs: Gynecologic Cancers, Cancer Prevention and Control
Community Cancer Screening Program: Implementing Interventions to Address Disparities
The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia hired health navigators to help implement interventions recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force to reduce cancer-related disparities in a rural, medically underserved region.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Black Corals: A Gem of a Cancer Screening Program in South Carolina
In rural South Carolina, where many African American women have limited access to lifesaving medical screenings, the St. James-Santee Family Health Center launched Black Corals to increase cancer screening among women. The Community Guide served as a resource to help the Black Corals program dramatically increase breast and cervical cancer screenings in their community. Activities included promoted events and educational sessions in local churches, hair salons, and restaurants throughout the community.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Increasing Cancer Screening: Group Education for Clients—Breast Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends group education to increase breast cancer screening. Interventions are conducted by health professionals or by trained laypeople. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Increasing Cancer Screening: One-on-One Education for Clients—Breast Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of one-on-one education to increase screening for breast cancer. Interventions are delivered by healthcare workers or other health professionals, lay health advisors, or volunteers. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Increasing Cancer Screening: One-on-One Education for Clients—Cervical Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of one-on-one education to increase screening for cervical cancer. Interventions are delivered by healthcare workers or other health professionals, lay health advisors, or volunteers. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Increasing Cancer Screening: One-on-One Education for Clients—Colorectal Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of one-on-one education to increase screening for colorectal cancer. Interventions are delivered by healthcare workers or other health professionals, lay health advisors, or volunteers. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Systematic literature review that identified studies of cancer-related CHW/ Patient Navigator (PN) interventions in Federally Qualified Health Centers described the components and characteristics of those interventions. Findings may guide future CHW/PN intervention development and evaluation.
Type of Resource: Journal article
Language: English
Audiences: CHWs, community-based organizations, NGOs, general public, health insurers, purchasers, and payers, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Cancer Prevention and Control
New York: Increasing Cancer Screenings, Saving Lives
The New York State Department of Health Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control coordinates multiple programs based on Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations to increase the screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. Interventions include client reminders, small media, mass media, and programs to reduce structural barriers.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Cancer Screening: Multicomponent Interventions—Breast Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends multicomponent interventions to increase breast cancer screening. Some components may be conducted by health professionals, CHWs, or patient navigators. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Cancer Screening: Multicomponent Interventions—Cervical Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends multicomponent interventions to increase cervical cancer screening. Some components may be conducted by health professionals, CHWs, or patient navigators. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Cancer Screening: Multicomponent Interventions—Colorectal Cancer
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends multicomponent interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening. Some components may be conducted by health professionals, CHWs, or patient navigators. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Cancer Prevention and Control
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention: Interventions Engaging Community Health Workers
This web page provides information and supporting materials for the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommendation about interventions engaging CHWs to prevent cardiovascular disease. It includes the CPSTF finding and rationale statement and a summary of the evidence that serves as the basis for this recommendation.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention: Team-based Care to Improve Blood Pressure Control
This web page provides information and supporting materials for the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommendation about team-based care to improve blood pressure control. It includes the CPSTF finding and rationale statement and a summary of the evidence that serves as the basis for this recommendation.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Effectiveness of Community Health Workers in the Care of Persons with Diabetes
This CDC staff-authored paper evaluated the effectiveness of CHWs in the care of people with diabetes and concluded that interventions involving CHWs showed some improvements in participant knowledge, behavior, and physiological measures and decreased hospital admissions, particularly in minority populations.
Type of Resource: Journal article
Language: English
Audiences: Health insurers, purchasers, and payers, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Division of Diabetes Translation
Road to Health Toolkit resources were developed for CHWs and educators working with African-American or Hispanic/Latino populations at risk for type 2 diabetes. Resources include the toolkit and all its components, a training guide and video, and an evaluation guide. Training and technical assistance resources are also available.
Type of Resource: Training
Language: English
Audiences: Certified educators, CHWs, community-based organizations, NGOs, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Community-based Organizations (CBOs)
This web page contains a collection of toolkits related to diabetes prevention and control.
Type of Resource: Training
Language: English, Spanish
Audiences: Certified educators, CHWs, community-based organizations, NGOs, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Division of Diabetes Translation
Do It for them! But for You, Too. (¡Hazlo por ellos! Pero por ti también)
This diabetes fotonovela describes simple ways to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, especially if a person has a family history of the condition.
Type of Resource: Educational materials
Language: English, Spanish
Audiences: Certified educators, CHWs, community-based organizations, NGOs, general public, public health professionals
Stories to Reach, Teach, and Heal
Over the ages and across the cultures and continents, stories have served to reach, teach, and speak for people in times of hardship and illness. CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation developed a guide: Stories to Reach, Teach, and Heal: A Guide for Diabetes Health Educators. The stories illustrate how health educators can use storytelling to share wisdom and inspiration.
Type of Resource: Educational materials
Language: English
Audiences: CHWs, general public, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Native Diabetes Wellness Program, Division of Diabetes Translation
The four-volume Eagle Book series was written by Georgia Perez, a veteran community health representative for the Nambe Pueblo. The books convey to Native children healthy ways of living that are rooted in traditional Native values. Additional resources that coordinate with the books are also available on this web page.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: CHWs, general public, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Native Diabetes Wellness Program, Division of Diabetes Translation
Books and materials on this web page are follow-ups to the original Eagle Book stories, a series of books for Native American children, youth and others interested in healthy living. The youth materials continue to promote type 2 diabetes prevention and encourage a respect for traditional ways, including physical activity and healthy eating.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: CHWs, general public, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Native Diabetes Wellness Program, Division of Diabetes Translation
American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country are reclaiming traditional foods as part of the global Indigenous food sovereignty movement, which embraces identity, history, and traditional ways and practices to address health. This web page lists resources that community health representatives can use to educate their communities about traditional foods.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: Certified educators, CHWs, community-based organizations, NGOs, general public, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Native Diabetes Wellness Program, Division of Diabetes Translation
Diabetes Prevention: Interventions Engaging Community Health Workers
This web page provides information and supporting materials for the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendation about interventions engaging CHWs to prevent diabetes. It includes the Task Force finding, rationale statement, and summary of the evidence that serves as the basis for this recommendation.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Division of Diabetes Translation
Language: English
This CDC staff-authored paper discusses how to strengthen the roles of CHWs, enabling them to become collaborative leaders in a healthcare environment dramatically changing from "sickness care" systems to systems that provide comprehensive care for individuals and families and supports community and tribal wellness.
Type of Resource: Journal article
Language: English
Audiences: Health insurers, purchasers, and payers, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Community Health Workers: Part of the Solution
This CDC staff-authored paper describes how two states, Massachusetts and Minnesota, initiated comprehensive policies to foster far more use of CHWs and, in the case of Minnesota, to make CHW services reimbursable under Medicaid.
Type of Resource: Journal article
Language: English
Audiences: Community-based organizations, NGOs, health insurers, purchasers, and payers, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Improved quality of care, increased compliance, and reduced costs—these are just a few of the many benefits of including CHWs as part of a comprehensive health care team. This video shows how CHWs help patients , especially those with language or other barriers , navigate complex health care systems.
Type of Resource: Multimedia
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
This guide is a resource for public health practitioners to define and facilitate community-clinical linkages.
Type of Resource: Report
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
Using Community Health Workers to Prevent Infectious Diseases in Women
This is a conference summary from the International Conference on Women and Infectious Disease. It discusses the use of CHWs to deliver infectious disease prevention services in the United States.
Type of Resource: Journal article
Language: English
Audiences: Health insurers, purchasers, and payers, healthcare providers, public health professionals
Related CDC programs: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Vaccination Programs: Home Visits to Increase Vaccination Rates
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends home visits to increase vaccination rates in children and adults. Home visits may be conducted by vaccination providers (e.g., nurses) or others (e.g., social workers, CHWs). This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Vaccines & Immunizations
Use of Child Safety Seats: Distribution and Education Programs
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends interventions that use distribution and education programs to increase child safety seat use. Programs may be implemented in hospitals, clinics, or homes and often use community volunteers. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Motor Vehicle Safety Program
Early Childhood Home Visitation to Prevent Child Maltreatment
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends early childhood home visitation programs to reduce child maltreatment among high-risk families. Programs may be implemented by nurses, social workers, paraprofessionals, or community peers. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Child Abuse and Neglect, Division of Violence Prevention
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends multicomponent coaching or counseling interventions that use technology to help clients lose weight. Interventions are delivered by health professionals, including coaches and counselors. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Overweight and Obesity
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends multicomponent coaching or counseling interventions that use technology to help clients maintain weight loss. Interventions are delivered by health professionals, including coaches and counselors. This finding is based on a systematic review of evidence.
Type of Resource: Web page
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Overweight and Obesity
Familias Sanas y Activas: Improving Health among Latinos in San Diego
Based on recommendations from the Community Preventive Services Task Force, the San Diego Prevention Research Center is improving the health of Latinos in the city with a free physical activity program that includes training promotores de salud to lead group exercise classes.
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
Language: English
Audiences: All
Related CDC programs: The Community Guide, Physical Activity