Who is a CHW?
Beyond
Promoting Health
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted community members and natural leaders who serve as vital bridges between individuals, communities, and health and social systems. Grounded in shared life experiences, cultural understanding, and mutual trust, CHWs engage, educate, and advocate to address health needs, remove barriers, and promote equity.
They possess deep knowledge of local issues, resources, and strengths, enabling them to foster relationships, mobilize participation, and inspire collective action for healthier, more just communities. Through their commitment, empathy, and accountability to the people they serve, CHWs contribute to lasting individual and systemic change that improves quality of life and advances social justice.
What they do
How CHWs Make a Difference
CHWs and promotores turn community connection into community change. Through their everyday actions, they help people access resources, strengthen skills, and come together to improve health and well-being. Acting as educators, advocates, and leaders, they work alongside individuals, families, and neighbors to create solutions that last.
Here are some of the ways CHWs create impact:
Build strong, trusting relationships
Through outreach, peer support, group and individual meetings, solidarity, and ongoing collaboration.
Support skill-building and personal growth
Offering educational workshops, providing informational resources, and sharing experiences and practical knowledge.
Promote community engagement and leadership
Raising awareness, fostering local leadership, and driving advocacy for meaningful action.
Why they do it
The Heart Behind
the Work
Many CHWs and promotores walk this path because their own lives were once touched by someone in the role. They’ve felt the relief of being understood, the power of having someone walk beside them, and the courage that comes from knowing they’re not alone. That experience plants a seed, a calling to give back.
At El Sol, our CHWs and promotores live in the neighborhoods they serve, share the same culture, and often face similar challenges. This personal connection fuels their commitment, it’s not just a job, it’s a vocation.
A calling to walk and support communities often underserved, and a movement that carries the hopes of communities, advancing health equity as its guiding value and legacy. Every act of support by El Sol CHWs reflects this deep belief: that together, we can achieve community transformation.
Early History of Community Health Workers
For centuries, CHWs—known as village health workers, barefoot doctors, feldshers, and promotores—have been trusted frontline leaders. Across different cultures and times, they have stepped forward in moments of crisis to care for their neighbors, often in the face of disease, poverty, and limited resources. More than a profession, being a CHW has always been a calling to serve the most vulnerable.
Success stories
We celebrate the transformative impact of CHWs’ dedication. Each story reflects resilience, growth, and the power of connection.
Through our programs, community members have improved their health, strengthened their families, and reached goals once thought out of reach. These success stories capture the heart of our mission — walking alongside our communities and serving as a catalyst for lasting change.
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Start Your CHW Journey
At El Sol Training Center, we place CHWs/Promotores/Representatives (CHW/P/Rs) at the center of all we do, providing interactive training that emphasizes practical learning, cultural humility, and group discussions.
Our programs empower CHWs to drive real change, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the communities they call home. We also provide tailored workforce development and technical assistance to help organizations integrate the CHW/P/R model effectively, ensuring that as we train more CHWs, there are places ready to welcome their skills and leadership.
Opportunities for CHW Development
1. CHW Training & Certification
Interactive courses that build CHW knowledge and skills, grounded in real-world practice and community values.
2. Capacity-Building Assistance
Already working in health or social services? Learn how to integrate the CHW model into your work, strengthen your outreach, and apply CHW principles to better serve your community.
3. Apprenticeship Program
Hands-on learning with mentorship from experienced CHWs, combining classroom training with field experience.