Core Competencies and a Workforce Framework for Community Health Workers: A Model for Advancing the Profession

OBJECTIVES: To establish a validated, standardized set of core competencies for community health workers (CHWs) and a linked workforce framework. METHODS: We conducted a review of the literature on CHW competency development (August 2015), completed a structured analysis of literature sources to develop a workforce framework, convened an expert panel to review the framework and write measurable competencies, and validated the competencies (August 2017) by using a 5-point Likert scale survey with 58 participants in person in Biloxi, Mississippi, and electronically across the United States. RESULTS: The workforce framework delineates 3 categories of CHWs based upon training, workplace, and scope of practice. Each of the 27 competencies was validated with a mean of less than 3 (range = 1.12-2.27) and a simple majority of participants rated all competencies as "extremely important" or "very important." CONCLUSIONS: Writing measurable competencies and linking the competencies to a workforce framework are significant advances for CHW workforce development. Public Health Implications. The standardized core competencies and workforce framework are important for addressing health disparities and maximizing CHW effectiveness.