Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and/or have an unusually close understanding of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. 

A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy. 

The course content is designed to increase the competence and self-efficacy of community health workers. This course provides the foundational knowledge needed for succesful work as a CHW. The training is based upon the nationally recognized roles, skills, and qualities for a community health worker.