CHW ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
What is a Community Health Worker?
ARCHWA has adopted a modified version of the American Public Health Association definition of a Community Health Worker (CHW) as follows:
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. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities.
ARCHWA also recognizes the definition set forth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as follows:
21-1094 Community Health Workers: Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs. Excludes “Health Education Specialists”.
What are the roles and core competencies of a CHW?
ARCHWA has adopted the roles and core competencies as outlined in the National Council on CHW Core Consensus (C3) Standards Reports and Website.
Core Roles:
Providing cultural mediation among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems
Providing culturally appropriate health education and information
Providing care coordination, case management, and system navigation
Providing coaching and social support
Advocating for individuals and communities
Building individual and community capacity
Providing direct services
Implementing individual and community assessments
Conducting outreach
Participating in evaluation and research
Core Competencies
Communication skills
Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
Service coordination and navigation skills
Building individual and community capacity
Advocacy skills
Education and facilitation skills
Individual and community assessment
Outreach skills
Professional skills and conduct
Evaluation and research skills
Knowledge base
What activities are within the scope of practice of a CHW?
Sample activities within the CHW scope of practice include:
Conducting interviews with new clients
Educating clients about informed consent
Supporting clients in the use of effective communication, resources, and knowledge
Supporting clients to take a proactive approach to their own health and well-being
Supporting clients in behavior change
Supporting clients in self-sufficiency
Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health education and information
Building trust with clients
Providing case management services
Providing interpretation and translation services
Accompanying clients to appointments
Determining eligibility status
Assisting with retention of clients
Assisting with medication and care plan adherence
Participating in home visits
Leading and participating in community organizing
Facilitating support and peer groups
Advocating for community and individual client needs
Assisting clients with access
Assessing and connecting clients to health-related social needs / social drivers of health
Participating on research teams, including recruitment of study participants, data collection and interpretation, and dissemination of findings
Managing projects
Leading a team of CHWs
Sample activities that are outside of the CHW scope of practice include:
Diagnosing illness and other health conditions
Prescribing treatment or medication
Providing formal counseling or professional therapy
Providing advice on legal or medical issues
Providing any service that requires a license issued by a professional licensing board or oversight body
To check out a comprehensive healthcare career comparison, please see this comparison by the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota.
Do CHWs have to be certified in order to work in Arkansas?
Certification is not required for an individual to work as a CHW in the state of Arkansas. However, certification is required to participate in Arkansas Medicaid reimbursement and may be required by employers. Certification is overseen by a 21-member, majority CHW, certification commission. Individuals are eligible to apply for certification through three different pathways: 1) after four years of full-time CHW experience, 2) after 2 years of full-time CHW experience and completing an approved CHW core competency training program or 3) after 1 year of full-time CHW experience and completing an approved CHW apprenticeship program.
For detailed application information, please visit the ARCHWA website.
What are common job titles for CHWs?
Nationally and in Arkansas, CHWs have been identified by many titles. The table below lists self-identified CHWs who attended the 2025 annual CHW summit in Arkansas. Please note that some of these roles may require degrees and/or additional qualifications as determined by the employer.
Benefits Counselor
Bilingual Outreach Specialist
Cancer Patient Navigator
Care Advocate
Care Coordinator
Case Manager
Community Champion
CHW I, II and III
CHW, Behavioral Health
CHW, Interpreter/Translator
CHW, Maternal Health
CHW, Pharmacy Tech
CHW, Team Leader
Community Health Advocate
Community Health Coordinator
Community Health Manager
Community Liaison
Community Navigator
Community Outreach Coordinator
Community Program Manager
Director of HIV Prevention & Education
Enrollment Specialist
Executive Director
Health Navigator
Health Outreach Coordinator
Health Program Specialist
Mobile Health Unit Driver
Outreach Associate
Outreach Specialist
Patient Liaison
Patient Navigator
Peer Specialist
Peer Support Specialist
Project Director
Qualified Behavioral Health Provider
Social Navigator
Where do CHWs work?
Below are examples of where CHWs can be employed:
Clinics and Medical Offices
Community-Based Organizations
Community Health Centers
Cooperative Extension Offices
Correctional Facilities
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Government Agencies / State Health Departments
Hospitals / Academic Health Centers
Non-profit Organizations
Pharmacies
Police Departments
Private Healthcare Insurance Plans
Public Libraries
Schools, Colleges and Universities
Social and Human Service Agencies
CHWs in Arkansas
There are 500+ CHWs in Arkansas with 120+ certified through the Arkansas CHW Certification Commission.
CHWs are employed at 100+ locations in Arkansas and 100K+ Arkansans are served by CHWs annually.
Some employers in Arkansas include 1st Choice Healthcare, Arisa Health, Arkansas Birthing Project, Arkansas Center for Women and Infants’ Health, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Baptist Health, Boston Mountain Rural Health Center, Inc., Community Clinic, Mainline Health Systems, Mercy, Mid Delta Health Systems, Tri County Rural Health Network, Inc., UAMS and White River Health Systems.
Appendix A
| Core Competency | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1. Communication Skills | - Ability to use language confidently - Ability to use language in ways that engage and motivate - Ability to communicate using plain and clear language - Ability to communicate with empathy - Ability to listen actively - Ability to prepare written communication including electronic communication (e.g., email, telecommunication device for the deaf) - Ability to document work - Ability to communicate with the community served (may not be fluent in language of all communities served)-- |
| 2. Interpersonal and Relationship Building Skills | - Ability to provide coaching and social support - Ability to conduct self-management coaching - Ability to use interviewing techniques (e.g., motivational interviewing) - Ability to work as a team member - Ability to manage conflict - Ability to practice cultural humility |
| 3. Service Coordination and Navigation Skills | - Ability to coordinate care (including identifying and accessing resources and overcoming barriers) - Ability to make appropriate referrals - Ability to facilitate development of an individual and/or group action plan and goal attainment - Ability to coordinate CHW activities with clinical and other community services - Ability to follow-up and track care and referral outcomes |
| 4. Capacity Building Skills | - Ability to help others identify goals and develop to their fullest potential - Ability to work in ways that increase individual and community empowerment - Ability to network, build community connections, and build coalitions - Ability to teach self-advocacy skills - Ability to conduct community organizing |
| 5. Advocacy Skills | - Ability to contribute to policy development - Ability to advocate for policy change - Ability to speak up for individuals and communities |
| 6. Education and Facilitation Skills | - Ability to use empowering and learner-centered teaching strategies - Ability to use a range of appropriate and effective educational techniques - Ability to facilitate group discussions and decision-making - Ability to plan and conduct classes and presentations for a variety of groups - Ability to seek out appropriate information and respond to questions about pertinent topics - Ability to find and share requested information - Ability to collaborate with other educators - Ability to collect and use information from and with community members |