The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has identified a need for resources, structured guidance, and best practices for local and Tribal health departments (LTHDs) in Wisconsin that are preparing to, or actively working on, effectively integrating CHWs into their organizations.
The Wisconsin CHW Empowerment Collaborative (CHW-EC) has adopted the American Public Health Association (APHA) CHW Section’s definition of a CHW as:
“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 or link or intermediary between health or social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.”
Whether your organization is in the early stages of planning, maintaining, or seeking additional support for a Community Health Worker (CHW) program, this toolkit provides practical strategies, tools, and resources for program planning, implementation, and evaluation.