Catawba County News
Catawba County 101: Community Health Workers
Published: October 01, 2024
MAKING. LIVING. BETTER: Public Health: Community Health Workers
What is its mission/purpose?
Community Health Workers help eliminate barriers to good health by connecting individuals to available community resources and services and serve as a bridge to improving individual health for a healthier community.
While access to clinical services is important, that’s only one part of what we need to be healthy. Having fundamental needs met - having enough food, stable housing and access to affordable healthcare – are part of what we call the Social Determinants of Health. Community Health Workers help people find resources to addresses these needs and when these barriers and concerns are cleared away, people can focus on their health. On a community level, if we have families who have what they need to be healthy, we are creating a healthier, more vibrant community, one family at a time.
Earlier this year, Catawba County Public Health released the 2023 Community Health Assessment report, which named access to healthy food, brain health and access to safe, engaging and active spaces as top health priorities in our county. Community Health Workers address these community health priorities by helping people navigate available food resources, finding ways for people to make social connections, preventing chronic disease by helping people access healthcare services and navigate the sometimes complex healthcare system, helping people locate transportation options to get to grocery stores and medical appointments, and assisting people with understanding and filling out applications and forms to obtain services.
How do you achieve your mission – what services are offered?
- Catawba County Public Health’s Community Health Workers are able to serve anyone in Catawba County. They are able to help people:
- Obtain medical, mental health, dental and vision care
- Apply for Medicaid, decide on Medicare coverage options and other health discount programs
- Fill out prescription assistance applications
- Fill out applications for food resources and locate food banks and soup kitchens
- Apply for housing and utility services
- Locate jobs through NC Works and other services to aid in employability
- Identify transportation options
- Obtain medical equipment, household goods, clothing, diapers, child vehicle safety seats, and other baby-care items
The needs that come up most often are food, healthcare, housing/utilities and transportation.
While they aren’t able to meet every need due to resource availability and eligibility requirements for service providers, they’re always looking for ways to help people meet their needs.
Who does this department/service area/program serve?
Anyone living in Catawba County can utilize the Community Health Worker program and people can refer themselves or be referred by another community organization. Thousands of Catawba County residents are in families that make less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, making them more vulnerable to negative health outcomes.
How and where are services delivered?
A huge component of public health is meeting people where they are, which is exactly what the CHWs do. They are out in the community, working directly with clients, going with clients to community organizations, participating in outreach events and strengthening community partnerships. Community Health Workers conduct an interview with new clients, allowing that client to identify what needs are priorities. The Community Health Worker then begins linking people to services to meet those needs and assisting in navigating systems and filling out forms or applications, while encouraging clients to continue taking steps on their own to improve their health and quality of life.
One example is a client who had been out of work due to not being able to communicate well with his previous employer due to him not being able to hear well. The Community Health Worker was able to help him apply for Medicaid and get in with a hearing provider, who prescribed hearing aids for the client. Because hearing was an employment concern, the Community Health Worker also linked the client to Vocational Rehabilitation. He was able to receive his hearing aids, along with job training, and has been able to improve entire living situation.