Latino Connection’s Community-Based Health Worker (CHW) team support the development of healthy communities, and execute outreach strategies in assigned territories for the purposes of impacting health outcomes, healthcare costs, and member engagement.
Our CHWs have established connections with the community, filling the role of the primary contact to a targeted member population, including high-risk and vulnerable members. CHWs play an important role as part of new and traditional interdisciplinary teams, delivering primary health care services through home visits and outreach calls, supporting members to achieve positive health outcomes in their health journey.
As an extension of our Public Health Programming, our CHWs are expected to report essential information for the potential creation of educational programs that would enhance member knowledge while impacting health outcomes. Some of those are safety-based education presentations, health education and outreach sessions, culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotions, workshops for members based on referrals from different healthcare providers, etc.
Responsibilities
Some of the responsibilities of a community health worker are to promote goal setting and strategic planning for the future. Latino Connection CHWs are experts in executing care management and improvement plans set by providers including:
- assisting members in referrals and follow-ups
- completing applications for services
- connecting individuals to resources
- coordinating transportation for members
Benefits
“In 2011, the United States spent approximately $8,680 per person on health care, for a total of $2.7 trillion.”
Healthcare costs have increased and continue to increase nationwide. Research has shown that factors like poor management of health, lack of access to health care, and lack of preventive care contribute to rising healthcare costs. Research has also demonstrated that underserved minority and racial communities overall experience poorer health status than other communities.
By reaching out and bringing wellness education and services to communities, CHWs help reduce the demand on the health care system and ultimately reduce healthcare costs. Furthermore, CHWs assist in bridging gaps between communities and practitioners, improving communication, compliance, and coordination of care.
