Community Health Workers Lend a Helping Hand

Yesterday, December 17, 2020, Elica Health Centers Community Health Workers met a homeless family at a field to deliver donations: diapers, clothing, and warm scarves, provided by Health Program. Health Programs is grateful to David & Young, who donated 120 scarves to help keep our patients warm and safe this winter. We were able to provide 3 high-quality scarves to this family, as well as numerous other patients in need. We couldn’t help our patients without the generosity of companies like David & Young.

The role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) at Elica Health Centers is to support those who do not come to the clinic for help, but need help. In their daily work, they go out to meet those who need help and become community health advisors, community health representatives, and health educators. CHWs offer interpretation and translation services, provide culturally appropriate health education and information, help people get the care they need, and give informal counseling and guidance on health behaviors.

Who are Community Health Workers, exactly?
These are the people on the front lines, providing support to patients  in order to help them improve their lifestyle and connect them with their proper healthcare options and community resources.

What exactly a Community Health Worker do?

• Work collaboratively and effectively within the team
• Establish positive, supportive relationship with patient and provide feedback
• Help patient in utilizing resources, including connecting frequent ER visiting patients to their PCPs, and assisting with completion of applications for programs for which they may be eligible
• Bridge the gap between communities and the health and social service systems

Community Health Worker Roles:

• Care Coordination, Case Management, and system navigation
• Conducting outreach
• Building individual and community capacity
• Providing direct service
• Assist patients with linkage to social support/services
• Promote health education and self-management tool and distribute materials

For more information or to book an appointment, please call (916) 454-2345.