Community health worker
Community Health Worker
A Community Health Worker (pronunciation: /kəˈmjuːnɪti hɛlθ ˈwɜːrkər/) 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.
Etymology
The term "Community Health Worker" is a direct translation of the role these individuals play within their communities. "Community" (from the Latin communitas, meaning "common") refers to a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. "Health" (from the Old English hǣlth, meaning "wholeness, a being whole, sound or well") refers to the state of being free from illness or injury. "Worker" (from the Old English weorc, meaning "something done, discrete act performed by someone, action (whether voluntary or required), proceeding, business") refers to a person or thing that does work.
Related Terms
- Public Health: The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.
- Healthcare Access: The ease with which an individual can obtain needed medical services.
- Cultural Competence: A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals and enable that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.
- Social Services: A range of public services provided by governmental or private organizations. These public services aim to create more effective organizations, build stronger communities, and promote equality and opportunity.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Community health worker
- Wikipedia's article - Community health worker
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