What does a community health worker do?
CHWs at Carle partner with other community agencies in Vermilion county to help individuals living with chronic health conditions within underserved communities. CHWs respond to each individual’s needs in a culturally responsible manner while also being respectful of the local societal norms and customs. Through client visits and community engagement, the CHW assists clients in overcoming barriers to health, social services, education and employment.
A community health worker:
- Serves both the urban and the rural parts of Vermilion County.
- Conducts outreach to clients based upon referrals from the primary care provider’s care team.
- Empowers clients with knowledge through education.
- Shares information with primary care teams about client lived experiences.
- Is a member of an interdisciplinary team designed to support clients living with chronic health conditions.
- Is a partner with community organizations.
- Assists clients with navigating complex systems to get the care they need.
- Assists clients with overcoming barriers to improve their health and wellness.
- Conducts home visits to build trusting relationships with clients.
- Provides client education to improve health and wellness.
- Performs health and wellness activities in group sessions, health fairs, clinics and other community settings.
It’s the role of a community health worker to:
- Meet individuals where they are to better understand the challenges they’re facing.
- Help individuals connect with community services.
- Help individuals understand the primary healthcare team’s plan of care.
- Serve as a champion for each individual.
You can expect a community health worker to:
- Be empathetic and compassionate.
- Be a trustworthy, nonjudgmental listener.
- Have passion and reliability.
- Provide solution-oriented resourcefulness.
- Provide coaching and social support.
- Provide telephone and in-person visits.
- Work with clients and their healthcare team to establish health-related goals.
- Provide assistance with connecting individuals to Carle and community resources.
To Learn More About Community Health Workers:
To learn more about the Carle Community Health Worker team, please visit
carle.org/CHW or call (217) 554-1850, or to learn how to become a CHW please visit our
Carle Careers page.
Carle Community Health Workers in Vermilion County is offered through Carle Health Community Health Division, support The Vermilion County Community Health Collaborative, funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Through this joint effort, we meet community members where they are, and provide access to healthcare in an effort to improve chronic care outcomes and provide specialty care and preventative care.
Along with Carle Health (including Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center), community partners in the collaborative are Crosspoint Human Services; DBA Heavenly Square Grocery; New Life Church of Faith; Step Up; Danville Area Community College; Vermilion Advantage; Danville School District 118; CRIS Healthy Aging; Vermilion County Public Health Department; East Central Illinois Community Action Agency; and the city of Danville.
