CHW National Library

A guide from USAID that offers case studies of successful large-scale community health worker programs, as well as concrete recommendations for addressing challenges. This guide is intended for administrators and policymakers who are interested in developing or improving community health worker programs.

A manual developed through the International Diabetes Foundation’s Women in India with GDM Strategy program. Educates community health workers about prevention and management of gestational diabetes mellitus.

A report from the Hispanic Health Council proposing recommendations for community health worker pay, caseloads, and training, as well as outlining policy recommendations for supporting robust community health worker programs.

A qualitative study analyzing the role of community health workers in patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) in Minnesota. Identifies facilitators and barriers to CHW integration in PCMHs as well as the roles CHWs play in this setting.

A literature review from the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology examining lay health worker use of evidence-based treatment as a means of reducing mental health disparities. Compares the use of such interventions in low, middle, and high income countries.

A qualitative study drawing on the experience of patient navigators. Analyzes the factors that contribute to unintentional hospital readmission, as identified by experienced patient navigators, and encourages attending to social factors when engaging in discharge planning.

A study from Health Promotion Practice assessing the feasibility and acceptability of the use of a community health worker-conducted mobile health intervention to improve pregnancy outcomes in the Dominican Republic. CHW-gathered data are sent to local physicians, who screen for signs of complications. The intervention is intended to improve prenatal health care access to poor and adolescent pregnant women.

A literature review evaluating the efficacy of community-clinical linkage interventions with community health workers. Describes the training and skills required of CHWs participating in such interventions. Recommends the use of community clinical linkage interventions with CHWs to improve patient outcomes.

Describes a Chicago-based community health worker program that provides services to 5,289 children. Offers details of the program as a model for creating and sustaining a large-scale and effective CHW program.

Analyzes the feasibility of training community health workers in motivational interviewing, an evidence-based tool, to promote cancer screening. Describes the development of a training protocol and accompanying fidelity protocols, as well as the implementation process.