About SCCHWA

Who Are CHWs?

 

Community Health Worker (CHW) is an umbrella term and includes community health representatives, promotores, peers, and other workforce members who are essential front-line public health professionals who live and work in challenged communities and populations.

CHWs share life experience, trust, compassion, and cultural value alignment with the communities where they live and serve.

Our values – self-determination, and self-empowerment of our workforce; integrity of character; dignity and respect for every human being; social justice and equity to ensure fair treatment, access, opportunity, and outcomes for all individuals and communities – guide our work. They are north stars we will use to support our members, foster partnerships, advocate nationally, develop strategic objectives, and assess our impact.

Community Health Workers may work in community-based organizations, like neighborhoods, housing, local libraries, and faith-based programs. CHWs also work in large health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, public health agencies, and small private practices. Community Health Workers may also be found in organizations focused on addressing unmet needs, like legal services or assisting with agricultural workers.

While CHWs are focused on whole health and social factors that impact health outcomes, they may work in disease-specific programs, like maternal-child health, Sickle Cell, diabetes, or hypertension. 

Community Health Workers:

  • Are experts on overcoming challenges and barriers to living healthier, fuller lives
  • Build trust by being unbiased, non-judgmental, and working with cultural humility
  • Cultural mediation between communities, health care providers, and human service systems
  • Provide culturally appropriate and understandable health education and information
  • Connect people with the services  and resources 
  • Advocate for individual and community needs
  • Often serve as a bridge between community and health care
  • Build individual and community capacity
  • Don't provide Clinical or Personal Care
Roles of Community Health Workers

The national Community Health Worker Core Consensus Project’s primary aim was to expand cohesion in the field and to contribute to the visibility and greater understanding of the full potential of Community Health Workers (CHWs) to improve health, community development, and access to systems of care. In 2016, after input from CHWs, allies and partners, the C3 Project team disseminated a recommended list of 10 roles, 11 skills and a host of Community Health Worker qualities. The C3 Project's recommendations are the Gold Standard for CHW training and work.

  • Cultural Mediation Among Individuals, Communities, and Health and Social Service Systems
  • Providing Culturally Appropriate Health Education and Information
  • Care Coordination, Case Management, and System Navigation
  • Providing Coaching and Social Support
  • Advocating for Individuals and Communities
  • Building Individual and Community Capacity
  • Providing Direct Service
  • Implementing Individual and Community Assessments
  • Conducting Outreach
  • Participating in Evaluation and Research

Community Health Worker Scope of Practice

CHWs can work with multiple types of partners, such as health care practitioners, managed care plans, human service organizations, and community-based organizations. Job duties typically involve three main components: Helping people navigate the health and human services system; providing culturally appropriate health education; and building individual and community capacity. CHWs are expected, to the fullest extent possible, to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support, guidance, and encouragement for individuals and help them receive needed follow-up care.

CHWs should spend fifty (50) percent or more of their time working with individuals and/or groups in the community. The list below provides a general description of the types of duties a CHW may fulfill and therefore the CHW job description should include some combination of these duties.

This Scope of Work may further be defined by an employer, and, in some instances, CHWs may require additional licensure, credentials, training or certification to focus on a particular specialty issue (i.e. asthma, sickle cell anemia, HIV, maternal-fetal medicine).

Navigate the health and human services system:

  • Coach individuals about how to use the health care and social service systems.
  • Educate the health and social service systems about the needs and perspectives of individuals being served.
  • Facilitate communication between health and social service providers and individuals.
  • Facilitate continuity of care through education, support, and reinforcement.
  • Identify potential enrollees and assist them with applications for programs such as health insurance and public assistance.
  • Inform individuals about and connect them with health and social service resources they may need.
  • Provide feedback on system-related challenges associated with referring individuals to community agencies and providers.

 Provide culturally appropriate health education:

  • Provide culturally appropriate health information to clients, providers, and communities.
  • Educate individuals and communities about disease prevention, health promotion, and infectious disease prevention (e.g. immunizations). Provide information about disease-appropriate resources when necessary to help track and manage chronic conditions, such as monitoring blood glucose levels, BMI as well as appropriate usage of telehealth technology when available and appropriate.
  • Assist individuals with self-management of chronic health conditions and medication adherence.
  • Help individuals set measurable health improvement and self-management goals.
  • Organize and/or facilitate support groups.
  • Facilitate access to preventive services such as health screenings.

 Build individual and community capacity:

  • Articulate and advocate for the needs of individuals and populations in the community.
  • Address/educate community members regarding identified community health needs.
  • Coach individuals regarding advocacy on behalf of themselves and their community.
  • Help build individual and community relationships.
  • When possible, mentor other CHWs to help them benefit from prior experience and build capacity and expertise more efficiently.
  • Identify continuing professional development needs and ways to fulfill them.
  • Identify, articulate, and help resolve, to the fullest extent possible, systemic problems inhibiting access to care.
  • Respecting HIPAA guidelines, report to supervisors, service providers, and/or community partners the plans, activities, and progress.
  • Document all work in a timely manner through the established administrative processes for both the individual clinical practice and the funding agency.
  • Provide social and emotional support to those being served.
  • Gather data from individuals and the community that can be used to inform decision-makers about population health needs and possible ways to address those needs.

[1] According to 20 USCS § 7801(6), the term “community-based organization” means “a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that (A) is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and (B) provides educational or related services to individuals in the community.

Community Health Worker Code of Ethics

The South Carolina Community Health Worker (SCCHW) Code of Ethics is based on the core values adopted by the American Association of Community Health Workers. It outlines a framework for discussing ethical issues among CHWs, their supervisors, and their employers.


The SCCHW Code of Ethics is based on principles that apply to all health and social service professionals (e.g., promotion of social justice, positive health, and dignity). However, the South Carolina Community Health Worker Code of Ethics does not address all ethical issues CHWs may face. The absence of a code does not imply that there is no ethical obligation.


As professionals, SC CHWs are encouraged to be guided by their ethical obligations to the individuals and communities they serve. They should default to their organization’s policies and procedures if they are uncertain.

Article 1. Responsibility in the Delivery of Care


CHWs build trust and community capacity by improving the health and social welfare of the clients they serve. When a conflict arises among individuals, groups, agencies, or institutions, CHWs should consider all issues and give priority to those that promote the wellness and quality of life of the individual/client. The following provisions promote the professional integrity of CHWs.

1.1  Honesty
CHWs are professionals who strive to ensure the best health outcomes for the communities they serve. They communicate the potential benefits and consequences of available services, including the programs under which they are employed.

1.2  Confidentiality
CHWs respect the confidentiality, privacy, and trust of individuals, families, and communities that they serve. They understand and abide by employer policies and state and federal confidentiality laws relevant to their work.

1.3  Scope of Ability and Training
CHWs are truthful about qualifications, competencies, and limitations on services they may provide, and should not misrepresent qualifications or competencies to individuals, families, communities or employers.

1.4  Quality of Care
CHWs strive to provide high-quality services to individuals, families, and communities. They do this through continued education, training, and an obligation to ensure the information they provide is up-to-date and accurate.


1.5  Referral of Appropriate Services
CHWs acknowledge when client issues are outside of their scope of practice and refer clients to the appropriate health, wellness, or social support services when necessary.


1.6  Legal Obligations
CHWs have an obligation to report actual or potential harm to individuals within the communities they serve to the appropriate authorities. They also have a responsibility to follow requirements set by states, the federal government, and/or their employing organizations. The responsibility of the larger society or specific legal obligations may supersede the loyalty owed to individual community members.

Article 2. Promotion of Equitable Relationships


CHWs focus their efforts on the well-being of the whole community. They value and respect the expertise and knowledge that each community member possesses. IN turn, CHWs strive to create equitable partnerships with communities to address all issues of health and well-being.


2.1  Cultural Humility
SHWs possess expertise in the communities in which they serve. They maintain a high degree of humility and respect for the cultural diversity within each community. As advocates for their

Communities, CHWs have an obligation to inform employers and others when policies and procedures offend or harm communities or are ineffective within the communities where they work.


2.2  Maintaining the Trust of the Community
CHWs are often members of their communities, and their effectiveness in providing services is derived from the trust placed in them by members of these communities. CHWs do not act in ways that could jeopardize the trust placed in them by the communities they serve.


2.3  Respect for Human Rights
CHWs maintain professional relationships with clients. They establish, respect, and actively maintain personal boundaries between them and their clients.


2.4  Anti-Discrimination
CHWs do not discriminate against any person or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, social status, disability, or immigration status.


2.5  Client Relationship
CHWs maintain professional relationships with clients. They establish, respect, and actively maintain personal boundaries between them and their clients.


Article 3. Interactions with Other Service Providers


3.1  Cooperation
CHWs prioritize the well-being of those they serve above personal disagreements and collaborate with any other person or organization dedicated to providing care to the needy.


3.2  Conduct
CHWs promote integrity in the delivery of health and social services. They respect all people's rights, dignity, and worth and have an ethical obligation to report any inappropriate behavior (e.g., sexual harassment, racial discrimination, etc.) to the proper authority.


3.3  Self-Presentation
CHWs are truthful and forthright in presenting their background and training to other service providers.


Article 4. Professional Rights and Responsibilities


The CHW profession is dedicated to excellence in the practice of promoting well-being in communities. Guided by common values, CHWs have the responsibility to uphold the principles and integrity of the profession as they assist families to make decisions impacting their well- being. CHWs embrace the individual, family, and community strengths and build upon them to increase community capacity.


4.1  Continuing Education
CHWs should remain up-to-date on any developments that substantially affect their ability to render services competently. Community Health Workers should strive to expand their professional knowledge base and competencies through education and participation in professional organizations.


4.2  Advocacy for Change in Law and Policy
CHWs are advocates for change and work on impacting policies that promote social justice and hold systems accountable for being responsive to communities.


4.3  Enhancing Community Capacity
CHWs assist individuals and communities in moving towards self-sufficiency by promoting the creation of opportunities and resources that support their autonomy.


4.4  Wellness and Safety
CHWs are sensitive to their own personal well-being (physical, mental, and spiritual health) and strive to maintain a safe environment for themselves and the communities they serve.


4.5  Loyalty to the Profession
CHWs are advocates for the profession. They are members, leaders, and active participants in local, state, and national professional organizations.

4.6  Advocacy for the Profession
CHWs are advocates for the profession. They are members, leaders, and active participants in local, state, and national professional organizations.


4.7  Recognition of Others
CHWs give recognition to others for their professional contributions and achievements.

 

South Carolina Community Health Worker Association

Our History & Team

The South Carolina Community Health Worker Association (SCCHWA) was founded in December 2014 in response to Community Health Workers (CHWs) voicing their need to be better trained, better supported, and better heard. In 2017 SCCHWA became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership-driven organization with a mission to support the CHWs workforce across South Carolina as they work to promote health equity and social justice.

Our Objectives & Mission

Align CHW training in South Carolina with nationally established core competencies, including standardizing the experiential learning component of CHW curriculum.

Promote uniform standards and requirements for the training, certification, and continuing education of CHWs and CHW Instructors in South Carolina.

Educate those working in the health and social service sectors about the role, scope of services, evidence of success, and best practices related to CHWs.

Develop and enhance opportunities for building the CHW workforce and its capacity to succeed.

Meet Our Staff
Meet Our Board

Current Projects

The African American Rural Women In COVID Project

In a collaborative partnership with the CDC, the University of South Carolina School of Public Health through research activities hopes to understand the impact of COVID-19 of African American Women in rural counties across South Carolina.

U of SC Researchers are partnering with SCCHWA to gather information through CHW Community Engaged Researchers (CERs). These are CHWs who have been trained and equipped with community engaged research skills concerning how to appropriately conduct surveys, use of data collection tools and the proper adherence to protocols regarding confidentiality, informed consent, and non-bias research practices with community members, as well as in-depth interviews with community leaders to identify multilevel barriers and facilitators their resilience through mixed methodology. 

CHW CERs are actively engaged in their respective communities documenting authentic responses of rural women of color concerning resilience, lived experiences, barriers to resources for mental and physical healthcare through individual interviews. 

Likewise, CERs will utilize their collective responses for the purpose of developing and reporting on public health practice including strategies to improve health system’s emergency preparedness and response through the multilevel lens of resilience.