Community Health Workers | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/systems/health-professionals/community-health-workers
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:10
Community Health Workers | Vermont Department of Health
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Translations for you
Community Health Workers
Health Professionals
Community Health Workers
Dental and Primary Care
Health Care Workforce Census
J1 Visa Waivers
Loan Repayment & Scholarships
Public Health Nursing
Shortages and Designations
Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a critical role in the health of our communities. They link diverse and underserved populations to health and social service systems.
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a front-line public health professional who is a trusted member of or has a close understanding of the community being served.
A CHW uses a person-centered approach to build trusting relationships that enable the CHW to serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural and linguistic competence of service delivery.
In addition, a CHW increases self-sufficiency, well-being, and positive health outcomes through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, supportive guidance, self-management, coaching and the provision of social support and advocacy.
Learn more about Community Health Workers in Vermont in this video!
Important Links
Sign up for our monthly CHW e-Newsletter!
CHW Toolkit from Minnesota
National CHW Resources
Scope of Practice & Core Competencies
A
Scope of Practice
refers to the list of activities and tasks that a specific job role can do. Sometimes, a Scope of Practice is tied to state laws and license rules.
Core Competencies
are the behaviors and skills a Community Health Worker must learn and do to achieve the mission and goals of their role.
Community Health Worker Scope of Practice & Core Competencies Report
In Fall 2019, the
Vermont Community Health Worker Steering Committee
adopted a Scope of Practice and set of Core Competencies for CHWs in Vermont. They reviewed roles and competencies from 8 other states.
1
They also used the
Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Project
as a guide.
Past and present members of the Vermont CHW Steering Committee include:
Vermont Department of Health
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH)
Vermont Blueprint for Health
Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC)
Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network
OneCare Vermont
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Rural Edge Housing and Community Development
Community College of Vermont (CCV)
Support and Services at Home (SASH)
Community Health Improvement of Burlington
University of Vermont Extension- Bridges to Health Program
Good Beginnings
University of Vermont Health Network Home Health & Hospice
1
(Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Arizona, Maryland, Indiana, Oregon, Kentucky, and Texas)
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common questions people have about Community Health Workers in Vermont.
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
Community Health Worker is an umbrella term that describes people who provide services to members of the community to help them improve their health.
CHWs are peer workers. They share language, culture, identity, or experience with the people they serve. They use this shared identity to help people connect to services and systems that benefit their health.
CHWs may have other job titles. These include lay health worker, community resource coordinator, care coordinator, navigator, or SASH coordinator.
The Vermont Department of Labor has an
Occupation Profile
for CHWs.
The CHW role is not new in the United States or around the world. In the U.S., the use of lay health workers in the community to expand access to health care began in the early 1960s. These workers helped people with the fewest resources, including Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color and low-income people.
What does a CHW do?
CHWs and the kinds of services they provide can also be as different as the communities they serve.
They meet with people in an office, medical setting, at home, or in communities. They offer support and resources to manage chronic conditions. They address health-related social needs. They also connect people to services.
They may help people fill out paperwork or understand health information. They can help people make a plan for taking care of themselves.
CHWs can provide basic screenings (
example: blood pressure
). They are not licensed or certified medical professionals, like Nurses, Social Workers, Registered Dieticians, or other medical roles.
What settings do CHWs work in?
CHWs work in many different settings.
CHWs may work in an office or out in their communities.
CHWs may work for health care organizations, like
hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and primary care offices.
Community-based organizations also employ CHWs. CHWs work in refugee and immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ groups, shelters and other programs that work with unhoused people, tribal organizations, and more.
Schools may also employ CHWs.
How do I contact a CHW?
Most CHWs work at organizations.
You can ask your doctor’s office if they have a CHW you can meet with.
If you are working with a community organization, they may have someone who can help you.
Do CHWs need to be certified or licensed in Vermont?
Vermont does NOT require CHWs to have a certificate, license, or credential.
What training do CHWs in Vermont receive?
Vermont does not have an approved CHW Core Competency training program.
CHWs may be trained for their job in different ways. This could include:
Completing a CHW training offered remotely from another state.
Trainings related to their work, like motivational interviewing, Vermont Health Connect Assister Program training, medical assisting, etc.
Completing internal training and job shadowing other CHWs.
Community College of Vermont (CCV) offers a
Community Health Certificate Program
that meets the CHW core competencies.
How are CHW services paid for in Vermont?
At this time, Vermont does not reimburse CHWs through Medicaid or other insurance.
Most CHWs in Vermont are funded by grants or core operating budgets (2022 CHW Survey).
Vermont’s
Blueprint for Health
funds CHWs who work in Community Health Teams around the state.
Tools and Resources for Community Health Workers
The Community Health Worker Resource Guide Series provides user-friendly guidance for CHWs in their daily work. The guides are designed to be safe, realistic, and culturally responsive. We create them in collaboration with CHWs in Vermont to ensure they're relevant, accessible and aligned with the needs of the communities they serve.
The
Food & Nutrition Security Guide
is the first in the series, with additional topics coming soon. It provides a practical framework to help CHWs identify food and nutrition insecurity, address barriers, connect individuals to resources and support Vermont community members in achieving improved well-being and food and nutritional security.
Training Opportunities
At this time, Vermont does not have a state-approved process or program for CHW core competency training. The following list is offered to assist CHWs and CHW employers who want training.
Community Health Worker Core Competency Trainings - CHW ADVANCE
Vermont CHWs can complete core competency training offered in NH. CHW ADVANCE is a workforce partnership with Southern Vermont AHEC, Southern New Hampshire AHEC, and the Northern New Hampshire AHEC/North Country Consortium. Learn more on
Southern New Hampshire AHEC's website.
Community Health Certificate - Community College of Vermont
CCV's community health certificate plays an important role in supporting improved health outcomes for individuals and populations. Students gain foundational skills and knowledge in public health, case management, and the impact of trauma. The certificate also include a Community Health Work course aligned with the core competencies of the community health worker role in Vermont.
Learn more about CCV here.
Professional Development Resources
These organizations offer trainings for Community Health Workers. Please note, this is not intended to be a complete list.
New England Public Health Training Center
helps build and sustain a skilled workforce with free learning tools and support designed to meet the unique needs of each region.
National Association of Community Health Workers
(NACHW) was founded in April 2019 with a mission to unify CHWs across geography, ethnicity, sector and experience to support communities to achieve health, equity and social justice.
envision
is a collaboration of expert community health workers (CHWs) and CHW allies. Their mission is to support CHW programs and networks in expanding and maximizing CHW leadership and the potential of the CHW workforce.
CHW Central
is an online community of practice that brings together program managers, experts, practitioners, researchers, and supporters of CHW programs.
Topic-Specific Trainings
Smiles for Life
is a FREE oral health curriculum. It is for Front Line Health Workers (FLHWs) who provide outreach, advocacy, patient education, care coordination, health care navigation, and social support for their communities. This includes Community Health Workers and Representatives, Promotores de Salud, health educators, case managers, and others. Smiles for Life supports FLHWs to promote oral health and end dental disease.
The
Community Health Worker in HIV Care
curriculum is a free, accessible training resource to support the integration of Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce into HIV and other primary care teams. The self-paced courses on this site address topics related to HIV and the supervision of CHWs.
Special Olympics Vermont
Offers free training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) working with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This training supports CHWs to describe the unique healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion needs of people with IDD and provide quality healthcare and referrals for people with IDD. Visit the
Special Olympics Learning Portal
and register for an account. Once registered, search for “Community Health Worker Training” to access the training.
State Survey Findings
In Vermont, the Department of Health and the Steering Committee surveyed Community Health Workers in 2022, 2021, and 2020. The survey results help us understand the role community health workers play. They identify the groups of people they serve. The surveys also asked about health issues addressed, training needs and more.
The Vermont Community Health Worker Environmental Scan was done in 2019. The scan provided information to the Vermont Community Health Worker (CHW) Steering Committee. They used it to guide and inform support for the CHW workforce in Vermont.
Choose from the links below to open the reports.
2022 Community Health Worker Survey Report
2021 Survey Data Brief: Workforce Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Integration Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Experiences Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Professional Identity Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Number of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and CHW Employers by Vermont County
2020 Survey Data Brief: Workforce Development
2020 Survey Data Brief: Professional Identity
Vermont Community Health Worker Environmental Scan
Resources for Employers
CDC Resources
support CHWs as they serve communities. The resources also help health care providers, health systems, community organizations, and others. They improve how organizations and practices work with CHWs.
The American Hospital Association developed the toolkit
Building A Community Health Worker Program: The Key to Better Care, Better Outcomes, & Lower Costs
. This resource helps leaders create and sustain successful community health worker programs.
Minnesota developed a
CHW Toolkit: A Guide for Employers
. It provides current and potential employers with guidance to include CHWs. It also helps them understand the training and skills of CHWs.
Contact us:
For more information or to get involved contact:
Jennifer Woolard, MPH, Public Health Program Administrator, Diabetes Program
[email protected]
Topics:
Chronic Disease
|
Health Equity
|
Healthy Communities
Last Updated:
March 31, 2026
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Community Health Workers
Health Professionals
Community Health Workers
Dental and Primary Care
Health Care Workforce Census
J1 Visa Waivers
Loan Repayment & Scholarships
Public Health Nursing
Shortages and Designations
Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a critical role in the health of our communities. They link diverse and underserved populations to health and social service systems.
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a front-line public health professional who is a trusted member of or has a close understanding of the community being served.
A CHW uses a person-centered approach to build trusting relationships that enable the CHW to serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural and linguistic competence of service delivery.
In addition, a CHW increases self-sufficiency, well-being, and positive health outcomes through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, supportive guidance, self-management, coaching and the provision of social support and advocacy.
Learn more about Community Health Workers in Vermont in this video!
Important Links
Sign up for our monthly CHW e-Newsletter!
CHW Toolkit from Minnesota
National CHW Resources
Scope of Practice & Core Competencies
A
Scope of Practice
refers to the list of activities and tasks that a specific job role can do. Sometimes, a Scope of Practice is tied to state laws and license rules.
Core Competencies
are the behaviors and skills a Community Health Worker must learn and do to achieve the mission and goals of their role.
Community Health Worker Scope of Practice & Core Competencies Report
In Fall 2019, the
Vermont Community Health Worker Steering Committee
adopted a Scope of Practice and set of Core Competencies for CHWs in Vermont. They reviewed roles and competencies from 8 other states.
1
They also used the
Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Project
as a guide.
Past and present members of the Vermont CHW Steering Committee include:
Vermont Department of Health
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH)
Vermont Blueprint for Health
Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC)
Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network
OneCare Vermont
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Rural Edge Housing and Community Development
Community College of Vermont (CCV)
Support and Services at Home (SASH)
Community Health Improvement of Burlington
University of Vermont Extension- Bridges to Health Program
Good Beginnings
University of Vermont Health Network Home Health & Hospice
1
(Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Arizona, Maryland, Indiana, Oregon, Kentucky, and Texas)
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common questions people have about Community Health Workers in Vermont.
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
Community Health Worker is an umbrella term that describes people who provide services to members of the community to help them improve their health.
CHWs are peer workers. They share language, culture, identity, or experience with the people they serve. They use this shared identity to help people connect to services and systems that benefit their health.
CHWs may have other job titles. These include lay health worker, community resource coordinator, care coordinator, navigator, or SASH coordinator.
The Vermont Department of Labor has an
Occupation Profile
for CHWs.
The CHW role is not new in the United States or around the world. In the U.S., the use of lay health workers in the community to expand access to health care began in the early 1960s. These workers helped people with the fewest resources, including Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color and low-income people.
What does a CHW do?
CHWs and the kinds of services they provide can also be as different as the communities they serve.
They meet with people in an office, medical setting, at home, or in communities. They offer support and resources to manage chronic conditions. They address health-related social needs. They also connect people to services.
They may help people fill out paperwork or understand health information. They can help people make a plan for taking care of themselves.
CHWs can provide basic screenings (
example: blood pressure
). They are not licensed or certified medical professionals, like Nurses, Social Workers, Registered Dieticians, or other medical roles.
What settings do CHWs work in?
CHWs work in many different settings.
CHWs may work in an office or out in their communities.
CHWs may work for health care organizations, like
hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and primary care offices.
Community-based organizations also employ CHWs. CHWs work in refugee and immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ groups, shelters and other programs that work with unhoused people, tribal organizations, and more.
Schools may also employ CHWs.
How do I contact a CHW?
Most CHWs work at organizations.
You can ask your doctor’s office if they have a CHW you can meet with.
If you are working with a community organization, they may have someone who can help you.
Do CHWs need to be certified or licensed in Vermont?
Vermont does NOT require CHWs to have a certificate, license, or credential.
What training do CHWs in Vermont receive?
Vermont does not have an approved CHW Core Competency training program.
CHWs may be trained for their job in different ways. This could include:
Completing a CHW training offered remotely from another state.
Trainings related to their work, like motivational interviewing, Vermont Health Connect Assister Program training, medical assisting, etc.
Completing internal training and job shadowing other CHWs.
Community College of Vermont (CCV) offers a
Community Health Certificate Program
that meets the CHW core competencies.
How are CHW services paid for in Vermont?
At this time, Vermont does not reimburse CHWs through Medicaid or other insurance.
Most CHWs in Vermont are funded by grants or core operating budgets (2022 CHW Survey).
Vermont’s
Blueprint for Health
funds CHWs who work in Community Health Teams around the state.
Tools and Resources for Community Health Workers
The Community Health Worker Resource Guide Series provides user-friendly guidance for CHWs in their daily work. The guides are designed to be safe, realistic, and culturally responsive. We create them in collaboration with CHWs in Vermont to ensure they're relevant, accessible and aligned with the needs of the communities they serve.
The
Food & Nutrition Security Guide
is the first in the series, with additional topics coming soon. It provides a practical framework to help CHWs identify food and nutrition insecurity, address barriers, connect individuals to resources and support Vermont community members in achieving improved well-being and food and nutritional security.
Training Opportunities
At this time, Vermont does not have a state-approved process or program for CHW core competency training. The following list is offered to assist CHWs and CHW employers who want training.
Community Health Worker Core Competency Trainings - CHW ADVANCE
Vermont CHWs can complete core competency training offered in NH. CHW ADVANCE is a workforce partnership with Southern Vermont AHEC, Southern New Hampshire AHEC, and the Northern New Hampshire AHEC/North Country Consortium. Learn more on
Southern New Hampshire AHEC's website.
Community Health Certificate - Community College of Vermont
CCV's community health certificate plays an important role in supporting improved health outcomes for individuals and populations. Students gain foundational skills and knowledge in public health, case management, and the impact of trauma. The certificate also include a Community Health Work course aligned with the core competencies of the community health worker role in Vermont.
Learn more about CCV here.
Professional Development Resources
These organizations offer trainings for Community Health Workers. Please note, this is not intended to be a complete list.
New England Public Health Training Center
helps build and sustain a skilled workforce with free learning tools and support designed to meet the unique needs of each region.
National Association of Community Health Workers
(NACHW) was founded in April 2019 with a mission to unify CHWs across geography, ethnicity, sector and experience to support communities to achieve health, equity and social justice.
envision
is a collaboration of expert community health workers (CHWs) and CHW allies. Their mission is to support CHW programs and networks in expanding and maximizing CHW leadership and the potential of the CHW workforce.
CHW Central
is an online community of practice that brings together program managers, experts, practitioners, researchers, and supporters of CHW programs.
Topic-Specific Trainings
Smiles for Life
is a FREE oral health curriculum. It is for Front Line Health Workers (FLHWs) who provide outreach, advocacy, patient education, care coordination, health care navigation, and social support for their communities. This includes Community Health Workers and Representatives, Promotores de Salud, health educators, case managers, and others. Smiles for Life supports FLHWs to promote oral health and end dental disease.
The
Community Health Worker in HIV Care
curriculum is a free, accessible training resource to support the integration of Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce into HIV and other primary care teams. The self-paced courses on this site address topics related to HIV and the supervision of CHWs.
Special Olympics Vermont
Offers free training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) working with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This training supports CHWs to describe the unique healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion needs of people with IDD and provide quality healthcare and referrals for people with IDD. Visit the
Special Olympics Learning Portal
and register for an account. Once registered, search for “Community Health Worker Training” to access the training.
State Survey Findings
In Vermont, the Department of Health and the Steering Committee surveyed Community Health Workers in 2022, 2021, and 2020. The survey results help us understand the role community health workers play. They identify the groups of people they serve. The surveys also asked about health issues addressed, training needs and more.
The Vermont Community Health Worker Environmental Scan was done in 2019. The scan provided information to the Vermont Community Health Worker (CHW) Steering Committee. They used it to guide and inform support for the CHW workforce in Vermont.
Choose from the links below to open the reports.
2022 Community Health Worker Survey Report
2021 Survey Data Brief: Workforce Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Integration Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Experiences Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Professional Identity Snapshot
2021 Survey Data Brief: Number of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and CHW Employers by Vermont County
2020 Survey Data Brief: Workforce Development
2020 Survey Data Brief: Professional Identity
Vermont Community Health Worker Environmental Scan
Resources for Employers
CDC Resources
support CHWs as they serve communities. The resources also help health care providers, health systems, community organizations, and others. They improve how organizations and practices work with CHWs.
The American Hospital Association developed the toolkit
Building A Community Health Worker Program: The Key to Better Care, Better Outcomes, & Lower Costs
. This resource helps leaders create and sustain successful community health worker programs.
Minnesota developed a
CHW Toolkit: A Guide for Employers
. It provides current and potential employers with guidance to include CHWs. It also helps them understand the training and skills of CHWs.
Contact us:
For more information or to get involved contact:
Jennifer Woolard, MPH, Public Health Program Administrator, Diabetes Program
[email protected]
Topics:
Chronic Disease
|
Health Equity
|
Healthy Communities
Last Updated:
March 31, 2026