Community health workers/Promotores working at the intersection of culture, language, community and health care systems

A Community Health Worker/Promotor (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services, academia, business and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing knowledge, education and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, community organizing and advocacy.

In this session, CHWs will tell their stories of the challenges they face in their work with immigrant and other underprivileged communities. CHWs will also share their strategies for overcoming these barriers and helping the health care system become more accessible and appropriate to the communities they serve.