KS Community Health Worker Coalition
who we are
Our Mission
Kansas community health workers collaborating to achieve health equity through education, empowerment, and advocacy of the community health worker profession.
Our Vision
Health Equity for all Kansans
Community Health Workers in Kansas
DEFINITION
Kansas Community Health Worker
A community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served.
This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
Source: “Community Health Workers.” Member Section. 2017. Accessed July 10, 2017.
ACCUMULATIVE LIST
Core Competencies
- Professionalism and Conduct
- Self-awareness
- Service Coordination and System Navigation
- Education to Promote Healthy Behavior Change
- Advocacy
- Individual and Community Capacity Building
- Effective Communication Strategies
- Cultural Responsiveness
- Documentation and Reporting
- Use of Public Health/Community Health Concepts and Approaches
- Individual Assessment
- Community Assessment
RESPONSIBILITIES
Scope of Practice
Kansas Community Health Workers (CHW) utilize core competencies that aid in connecting individuals to the information and services needed for optimal, individualized health outcomes. Core competencies support the CHW in performing appropriately within different models of practice as determined by employers.
The following Scope of Practice encompasses the roles and responsibilities CHWs may have based upon existing practice models being utilized by multi-disciplinary employers:
Client Support
Provide encouragement and social support to assist clients with goal setting and barrier identification within professional boundaries.
Care Coordination
Assist in coordinating care by linking people to appropriate information and services.
Healthcare Liaison
Serve as a culturally-informed liaison between clients, community and healthcare systems.
Health Education
Provide culturally appropriate health education to individuals, organizations and/or communities, in an effort to reduce modifiable risk factors and encourage healthy behaviors.
Advocacy
Recognize gaps and advocate for individual and community health needs.
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