State of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Community health workers are frontline, public health professionals who often have similar cultural beliefs, chronic health conditions, disability, or life experiences as other people in the same community. As trusted leaders, they often serve as a link between their community and needed health or social services. Community Health Workers help to improve access to, quality of, and cultural responsiveness of service providers.
The Rhode Island Department of Health understands that health is about more than just medical care and supports the formal certification of these individuals. Health begins where we live, learn, work, and play. Since January 2015, the Department has worked with Health Equity Zones across the state to address the needs of communities, as defined by the communities themselves.
Community health workers can benefit from certification and by learning about the healthcare system, social and environmental determinants of health, and how to help community members make healthy choices.
Contact Sarah Lawrence with the Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island for more information about training opportunities.
The Community Health Worker Association of Rhode Island (CHWARI) is a membership organization for community health workers and their allies. CHWARI works to strengthen the professional identity of community health workers; connect community health workers to career and leadership opportunities; and conduct advocacy to advance health equity at the grassroots level.