The Vermont Association of Community Health Workers
The Vermont Association of Community Health Workers (VTACHW) is a membership-based organization that represents a broad cross-section of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and ally organizations from across Vermont.
VTACHW unites the diverse voices of CHWs and ensures that this essential workforce becomes better recognized and a more sustainable part of the health care and safety net systems in our state.
The Association is actively building the organizational infrastructure and operational tools necessary to advance a more diverse, trained, and integrated CHW workforce in Vermont.
Community Health Workers
A Community Health Worker (CHW), as defined by the American Public Health Association, is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a close understanding of the community they serve.
This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison between health and social service providers and the community. CHWs work to improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing self-sufficiency through outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.