Community Health Workers: What They Do and How to Connect With One

You've probably never been handed a business card that says "Community Health Worker" — but if you've ever had someone help you find a food bank, sign up for Medicaid, or actually understand what your doctor just told you, you may have already worked with one.

What a Community Health Worker Actually Does

A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who acts as a bridge between you and the healthcare and social services system. CHWs typically come from the same communities they serve. That shared background — same neighborhood, same language, sometimes the same lived experience with a chronic condition or housing instability — is the point. It's what makes the role different from a social worker or a nurse case manager.

The American Public Health Association describes CHWs as offering a wide range of services: health education, informal counseling, social support, advocacy, and connecting people to care. In practice, that might look like:

• Helping you understand a diagnosis your doctor explained too quickly
• Sitting with you to fill out Medicaid or CHIP enrollment forms
• Connecting you with transportation to appointments
• Following up after a hospital discharge to make sure you have your prescriptions and know what to do next
• Helping you access food assistance, housing programs, or utility help
• Serving as a translator — not just for language, but for medical jargon

CHWs are not licensed clinicians and don't diagnose or prescribe. What they do is make sure you can actually access and use the care that's available to you.

Why CHWs Matter for People Who Face Barriers to Care

A lot of things can get between you and a doctor's appointment: no car, an inflexible work schedule, a clinic where no one speaks your language, distrust built up from past bad experiences with the healthcare system. CHWs work specifically in that gap.

Research supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has found that CHW-based programs can improve chronic disease management, increase use of preventive care, and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits — particularly in underserved communities. The impact shows up most clearly in communities where income, language, geography, or other factors create real distance between people and the care they need.

Some CHWs are embedded in clinics or hospitals. Others work for community organizations, public health departments, or federally qualified health centers (FQHCs — safety-net clinics that receive federal funding to serve everyone regardless of ability to pay). Still others work independently or through faith-based organizations.

What CHWs Are Not

It helps to know what CHWs don't do, so you know when to expect them and when to look for a different kind of help.

CHWs are not a replacement for medical care. They support it. If you need a diagnosis, a prescription, or clinical treatment, that comes from a licensed clinician — a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. A CHW might help you get to that clinician and understand what happened afterward, but they are not practicing medicine.

CHWs are also not the same as patient navigators, though the roles overlap. Patient navigators often work within a specific healthcare system — helping you schedule referrals, track down test results, or move through a complex treatment process. CHWs tend to have a broader community focus and often work across multiple systems (healthcare, social services, housing, food access) at once.

Finally, CHW credentials vary by state. Some states, like Texas and Massachusetts, have formal certification programs. Others do not. If you want to know whether a CHW in your area has formal credentials, the local health department or the organization they work for is the right place to ask.

How to Find a Community Health Worker Near You

CHWs are often found through organizations rather than listed as solo providers, which makes them harder to search for than, say, a cardiologist. Here are the most reliable ways to connect:

Your local federally qualified health center. FQHCs frequently employ CHWs as part of their care teams. You can find an FQHC near you through the HRSA Health Center Finder. These centers serve patients regardless of insurance status and often use a sliding-fee scale.

Your county or city health department. Many local health departments run CHW programs, especially for disease management (diabetes, hypertension, asthma), prenatal care, and vaccination outreach. Search for your county health department by name or check your state's health department website.

Community organizations and nonprofits. Organizations focused on specific populations — immigrant communities, people experiencing homelessness, people managing a particular chronic condition — often employ CHWs. A call to a local United Way chapter or 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) can point you toward what's available in your area.

Your primary care clinic. Ask your care coordinator, social worker, or front desk staff whether CHW services are offered or whether they can make a referral. Many large clinic networks now integrate CHWs into the care team.

Hospital discharge planning teams. If you or someone you're helping is being discharged from a hospital, the discharge planner or case manager may be able to connect you with a CHW for follow-up support.

Questions Worth Asking When You Connect With a CHW

Not every CHW program offers the same services, and availability varies a lot by region. When you first connect, it helps to be direct:

• What services do you provide, and what falls outside your role?
• Are there costs for your services?
• Do you have experience working with people who have [your specific situation — a chronic condition, a particular language need, a housing concern]?
• Who do you work for, and are your services tied to a specific clinic or open to anyone in the community?
• How do you share information with my other healthcare providers?

That last question matters. A good CHW program will have a clear process for coordinating with your care team, while still respecting your privacy and your right to control who sees your health information.

Where to Go From Here

If you're looking for a primary care provider, specialist, or other clinician to work alongside a CHW, the ProviderQuoHealth directory lets you search by location, specialty, and insurance. For condition-specific specialists, browse by specialty — for example, family medicine providers who may already have CHWs integrated into their practice.

If cost or insurance coverage is a concern, look for FQHCs through HRSA's finder first — they're designed to see patients regardless of ability to pay.

Important note

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional care from a licensed clinician. If you have a medical concern, talk to a healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 (in the U.S.) or your local emergency number.