The Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce Partnership is a collaborative initiative committed to scaling and sustaining the area’s CHW workforce, a crucial component in our collective mission to improve health outcomes in our region.
About Community Health Workers
Community health workers (CHWs) are trusted members of the communities they serve. This allows them to act as an intermediary between the community and a variety of sectors, including healthcare, criminal justice, education, and social services.
CHWs are fierce advocates and an invaluable resource for their patients, committed to referring patients to additional services and bridging the gap to improve patient follow-through.
Their culturally sensitive and trauma-informed delivery of care improves health outcomes for individuals and builds resilience and self-sufficiency among communities negatively affected by compounding social determinants of health.
See More Community Health Worker Stories
For a deeper understanding of the role and impact of community health workers, listen to the stories from CHWs in our community below.
Our Strategy
Since 2016, IHN has been leading the way in the development and implementation of CHW strategy in the St. Louis region. The focuses of our efforts include:
And in 2023 alone, the CHW Workforce Partnership provided more than 5,300 client encounters with 774 unique clients served and 1,217 service referrals provided.
St. Louis CHW Coalition
At IHN, we believe in the power of collaboration. That’s why we co-facilitate the HEAL partnership and support the St. Louis Community Health Worker Coalition. The Coalition acts as the regional backbone and professional organization for CHWs in our area.
The HEAL partnership serves as the largest regional CHW convening in the state of Missouri. These monthly meetings bring together a multi-industry network of partners to strategize and make decisions regarding regional and statewide CHW efforts, rising policy, workforce challenges, program advancement, and feasibility.
Together, we’re nurturing the growth and leadership of community health workers to advance health equity in our communities. Let’s continue to collaborate, learn, and grow in partnership as we strive for a healthier and more equitable future for all in St. Louis and beyond.