What role does a community health worker serve?

The role of a community health worker primarily involves connecting individuals and families within the community to essential health services. This includes helping them navigate the healthcare system, understanding available resources, and addressing barriers to accessing care. Community health workers are often trusted members of the community, which fosters strong relationships and promotes health education. By doing this, they play a critical role in addressing health disparities and improving overall community health outcomes.

The focus on building relationships and providing support to community members distinguishes this role from others that involve direct medical care, management of health department operations, or conducting research studies. While those roles are vital in their contexts, they do not encapsulate the community-oriented approach to health that community health workers embody.