Community health workers and their value to social work.
Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital and unique role in linking diverse and underserved populations to health and social service systems. Despite their effectiveness, as documented by empirical studies across various disciplines including public health, nursing, and biomedicine, the value and potential role of CHWs in the social work practice and research literature has been largely absent. Thus, this article introduces social workers to CHWs, their role in promoting culturally appropriate practice, and their utility in collaboration with social workers in community settings. This integrative review also discusses current challenges identified by the CHW literature, including potential barriers to the expansion of CHW programs, as well as issues of training, certification, and sustainability. The review also discusses the close alignment of CHWs with social work values and principles of social justice, suggesting opportunities for enhanced social work practice and research.
Spencer
Michael S
MS
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. spencerm@umich.edu
Gunter
Kathryn E
KE
Palmisano
Gloria
G
D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003150:Community Health Workers; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005006:Ethnicity; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D012935:Social Justice; D012947:Social Work; D014481:United States