Community Health Workers Should be Worker Advocates

Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline health workers who connect underserved populations to the health care system, provide health education, and advocate for their clients. CHWs can be particularly helpful to their clients in addressing social determinants of health that affect many chronic illnesses such as asthma, high blood pressure, poor mental health, and kidney and heart diseases. However, in one social determinant-the world of work-CHWs do not often play a role as facilitators and advocates. Low-income and other disadvantaged workers experience many hazards to their health and well-being, and knowledgeable CHWs could play a significant role in assisting them to confront such challenges.