What is the Community Health Workers Network of Canada?

The CHW Network of Canada is an emerging pan-Canadian organization of Community Health Workers and allies. We are working to: 

  1. Advance CHWs’ practice while preserving the identity and character of CHWs’ work,
  2. Unite CHWs to increase their visibility and voice, and
  3. Advocate for recognition of CHWs.

What is our Mission?

The Mission of the CHW Network of Canada is to provide a forum where CHWs and their allies can share learnings and resources with each other.

Principles

  • Social justice
  • Empowerment, equity, participation
  • Health promotion
  • Health equity
  • Value all opinions and knowledge
  • Work in collaboration
  • Collective decision making
  • Non discrimination

Objectives

  • To seek the recognition of the CHW workforce
  • To define and adopt a national definition for CHWs in Canada
  • To provide ongoing opportunities for knowledge exchange
  • To organize the CHW workforce at the local, regional, provincial and national levels
  • To advocate on behalf of CHWs
  • To conduct research on the workforce’s composition and competencies, different models, curriculum, training, cost effectiveness and return on investment
  • To seek the creation of a registry of CHWs
  • To make the case for CHWs working with communities in addressing health inequities
  • To support CHWs in addressing the social determinants of health

 

How we met

Where do CHWs work?

Network members work in a range of different settings, including public health units, community health centres, ethno-specific and multicultural community-based organizations, and other provincial organizations.

What do they do?

Network members deliver services, such as prevention and management of infectious and chronic diseases (cancer screening, diabetes, and HIV education); promote health and well-being by addressing the social determinants of health, and engage in community development to strengthen community capacity. They address health and social inequities by levelling the playing field.

We asked members to explain their impact in the communities where they work, and to share the most satisfying part of the work, some successes and challenges, and learnings about what kind of supports would address the challenges faced by the communities and individuals with whom they work. Their narratives reflect the variability of the different settings where CHWs work and the roles they play, across Canada. Please note, names were changed in the personal narratives.

Enjoying learning more about CHWs across Canada? Please contact us with questions, for additional information, or to join the Network! Connect with us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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