Community Health Workers

The CHW Initiative is a collaborative effort driven by partners and stakeholders across the state of Georgia.

What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?

In 2016, CHW stakeholders in Georgia came together and adopted the following definition (based on definitions from the American Public Health Association and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics). "A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a demonstrated working knowledge of the community and individuals served.” Community Health Workers, also known as Navigators, Promotoras, Outreach Workers, Community Health Aids, Health Promoters, and many other names, function in a variety of roles, and are typically from the community they serve.

CHWs have an essential role on the healthcare team given their unique position to help address high-priority public health issues and the health care needs of the community.

Georgia Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities 2109 CDC Grant (CCR-2109) 

DPH was awarded $9 million from the CDC over the course of 3 years ($3 million/year) to implement a COVID Response plan utilizing the CHW workforce.  Between August 1, 2021, and August 30, 2024, six key strategies under the CCR-2109 CDC grant supported CHWs in Georgia to address COVID-19 and future public health emergencies, with a focus on high-risk populations affected by chronic diseases. CHWs were strategically deployed across the state, concentrating on counties or clusters of zip codes heavily impacted by COVID-19 to maximize the impact of their outreach. CHWs addressed individuals with prediabetes/diabetes, pre-hypertension/hypertension, cancer, obesity, and tobacco users, connecting them to COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and testing. Additionally, CHWs worked to eliminate social determinants of health (SDOH) barriers and connect individuals to resources that offered healthier food options and promoted physical activity.

COVID-19 exacerbated chronic diseases and related risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking, for many individuals. Social distancing recommendations and increased isolation contributed to reduced physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, and food insecurity, leaving many at higher risk for serious complications from the virus.

To address these challenges, the integration of CHWs into chronic disease prevention and management programs became a cornerstone of the initiative. By utilizing this strategy, the initiative improved care for individuals with co-morbidities and strengthened their access to essential resources. CHWs played a crucial role in addressing COVID-19 and health disparities by leveraging their trusted relationships within communities and collaborating with public health agencies. With deep connections and trust in their communities, CHWs played a vital role in bridging the gap between individuals and the resources needed to safeguard individual health and well-being. These efforts were further supported by comprehensive training and partnerships that equipped CHWs with the skills and knowledge needed to engage effectively with vulnerable populations and contribute to state and local public health actions. 

Building Healthier Communities through Strategic Partnerships
This grant thrived on collaborations with key partners like United Way, Georgia State University’s ARCHI, Morehouse School of Medicine, and various community-based and faith-based organizations. These partnerships have significantly expanded our reach and impact of the grant.

  • ARCHI: Facilitated CHW placements in health systems and organizations, and supported training on CHWs core competencies.
  • United Way: Delivered CHW Supervisor and Employer training, employed CHWs for direct community outreach, and awarded mini-grants to organizations addressing social determinants of health (SDOH).
  • Morehouse School of Medicine: Leveraged community networks to enhance education, awareness, and access in underserved populations, focusing on reducing COVID-19 disparities.

During the pandemic, CHWs emerged as public health champions by implementing health education and promoting vaccine adherence in underserved communities. CHWs facilitated referrals, connected individuals with vital resources, and helped to address health disparities. By addressing SDOH barriers and promoting preventive health, CHWs played a critical role in advancing public health goals by ensuring all Georgians received the support needed.

For more information, please click Download this pdf file. here .

CHW Advisory Board 

The Georgia Community Health Worker (CHW) Advisory Board began in May 2017. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to help align our efforts state-wide to define, train, and certify CHWs, and to provide recognition to this growing group of professionals. The Advisory Board provides a strategic vision for Georgia’s Community Health Worker Initiative. The Advisory Board includes organizations and associations that have a state-wide focus and are geared toward addressing community health, health equity, and access to care for all. The board's recent focus has been on how to integrate CHWs into the workflow as well as how to foster a stronger and more sustainable relationship with the workforce. The Advisory Board works in collaboration with the CHW Network to develop a CHW career ladder. The Advisory Board consists of representatives from various sectors (health, public health, academia, community-based organizations, care management organizations, physicians, nursing, CHWs, and social workers).

Georgia CHW Advocacy Coalition

The Georgia CHW Advocacy Coalition was established in April 2018, to support the work of the Advisory Board. The Advocacy Coalition informs and promotes the role of the CHW in the community (to increase visibility), in addition to advocating for CHWs to be recognized as certified health professionals in the state. The Advocacy Coalition also works in collaboration with the Network to create materials for employers, supervisors, legislators, and the community regarding the role of the CHW. The CHW Advocacy Coalition is currently made up of approximately 70 members and is led by Georgia Watch.  

To join the CHW Advocacy Coalition, please send a letter of interest to the Advocacy Coalition email:

georgia-community-health-worker-advocacy-coalition@googlegroups.com

Please email [email protected] for more information and to join the conversation.

The CHW Advocacy Training

This will be a four-part series that will arm Georgia CHWs with resources to increase the efficacy of their organizing work and enable them to strategically mobilize marginalized communities around policy issues. The training and ongoing support will ensure that Georgia CHWs have a working knowledge of advocacy best practices, a core set of advocacy skills at different policy levels and enable them to train their peers in civic advocacy and community organizing around health equity.

For more information about the work of the Coalition or if you are interested in joining the effort, please visit: https://georgiawatch.org/chw/

CHW Network

In 2021, the Community Health Worker Initiative, in collaboration with its partners, launched the Georgia Community Health Worker Network. The CHW Network provides opportunities for CHWs to collaborate through meetings and learning collaboratives that support peer learning exchanges and collaborative partnerships. Participants discuss updates on local, regional, and national CHW events, activities, policy development and highlight local CHW projects. The CHW Network serves as a professional network for CHWs in Georgia. The CHW Network also advises the Advisory Board on professional development opportunities (training), and CHW career ladder development. The CHW Network also works in collaboration with the Advocacy Coalition to create materials for employers, supervisors, legislators, and the community regarding the role of the CHW.

 

Additional Resources

National Association of Community Health Workers

 

Last Reviewed 1/10/2025