Community Health Workers: Building trust to improve health outcomes

Both the mistrust of the medical establishment and the underutilization of medical services among African Americans have been linked to personal experiences with racial discrimination within the health care system and the exploitation of African Americans in medical experimentation. Community Health Workers (CHW's) are the gateway to bridge the gap between the patient and health care provider divide. CHW's are charged with understanding the community's needs, translating medical terminology and developing trusting relationships with clients to improve adherence to medical advice and ultimately improve health outcomes.

With support from the New Jersey Department of Health of Health & Senior Services and Aetna, the Northern New Jersey Maternal/ Child Health Consortium developed a guidebook for Community Health Workers entitled “Victory Comes in All Colors.” This publication provides Community Health Workers with tools to assist their clients through pregnancy and family development. The Black Infant Mortality Reduction Resource Center, a program of the Northern Consortium, advocates the involvement of CHW's as key personnel in the struggle to reduce the rates of racial/ethnic perinatal health disparities. “Victory Comes in All Colors” has been used to educate physicians about the value of cultural competency. It has been utilized as a teaching guide for nurses who are caring for pregnant women of color. Finally, the publication has been well received by CHW's who have found that it validates their role as trusted sources of health information by community members who are most at risk of maternal and infant mortality.