Being a Peer Community Health Worker: Restoring Ourselves and the Community

Online Publication Date:
November 11, 2022
Publication Status:
Published
Published Article MUSE Link:
Manuscript PDF File:

 

**Published in Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP) 17.4. All rights reserved.**

ABSTRACT

Women on the Road to Health (WORTH) Transitions combines two evidence-based strategies, WORTH and Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) into an intervention for women involved in the criminal legal system with substance use and HIV risks. Led by peer community health workers (CHWs), WORTH Transitions also links participants to primary care. We describe the impact of the program from the perspective of the CHWs. As integral research team members, the CHWs learned to successfully recruit, retain, and empower participants, facilitate the intervention, administer surveys, and help them link with and navigate the healthcare system. Simultaneously, the CHWs developed professional skills and self-efficacy.