The CHW Workforce Awareness Toolkit was created to educate and inform key stakeholders about the vital role Community Health Workers (CHWs) play in improving health outcomes. The toolkit serves as a comprehensive resource for advocating CHW support, enhancing their professional development, fostering community engagement, and promoting best practices across the public health sector.
This toolkit is designed to:
– Educate Stakeholders: Raise awareness of the crucial role CHWs play in advancing community health.
– Advocate for CHW Support: Encourage organizational and policy-level support for CHWs.
– Enhance Professional Development: Provide resources and guidance to support the ongoing growth of CHWs in their careers.
– Foster Community Engagement: Strengthen the connection between CHWs and the communities they serve.
– Promote Best Practices: Share proven strategies and approaches for optimizing the impact of CHWs.
– Core CHW Roles: Clear descriptions of the essential functions of CHWs in health promotion and service delivery.
– Evidence-Based Benefits: Data and statistics highlighting the effectiveness of CHWs in improving health outcomes.
– Storytelling & Advocacy Tips: Strategies for CHWs to use personal stories to advocate for the workforce and raise awareness.
– Stakeholder & Legislator Identification Tool: A resource to help identify key stakeholders and legislators who can support CHW initiatives.
– Suggested Talking Points: Key messages for CHWs to use when communicating with stakeholders and policymakers.
– Letter Templates for Outreach & Advocacy: Ready-to-use templates for CHWs to advocate for funding, policies, and community support.
– Curated Resource List: A collection of additional resources to support CHWs in their work, including training materials and professional development opportunities.
Led the development of the toolkit by designing and administering surveys, conducting data analysis, utilizing survey data, performing literature reviews, and integrating strategies to support CHWs in their advocacy and professional development. This process included gathering input from CHWs and stakeholders to ensure the toolkit met the diverse needs of the workforce.
The toolkit has been instrumental in educating and engaging stakeholders, leading to stronger advocacy efforts for CHWs and improved community health outcomes. It empowers CHWs by providing them with the tools to advocate for their profession and fosters a greater understanding of their role. Additionally, the toolkit features photos of CHWs from the coalition I coordinate, highlighting their essential contributions and fostering a sense of community and solidarity among frontline health workers. This visual representation reinforces the importance of CHWs and strengthens their presence in advocacy efforts and public health initiatives.
This toolkit equips stakeholders with resources on the vital role of CHWs, including data, advocacy tools, and best practices. I’m honored to empower frontline public health professionals and share these resources. Download now to support CHWs in your community.