The Community Health Worker Career Web Model is one of the many steps in our initiative to develop, define, and solidify the CHW workforce. The resources featured on this page help explore the different paths CHWs can take during their career development.

The CHW Career Web 

As the Community Health Worker profession grows, it is helpful to know what other fields CHWs might come from or move to over the course of their careers. This information can help organizations have a better understanding of where and how to recruit qualified CHWs and how to encourage career growth for those that have already established themselves in the profession. With the help of our own CHWs, we created this Career Web infographic and report to help visualize the unique career paths CHWs can take. Like a web, the many paths that can lead to CHW work or onto other options can go in many directions to serve ourselves and our communities.

“This visual is a good reflection of what is happening in real life. I know several CHWs who did go on to some of the different professions listed.”

Manuel Mayor, Premier Community HealthCare in Dade City, FL.

“I’m currently teaching a CHW course to seniors and this would be a terrific resource. I often share with them not to get lost in the titles but the skill sets and how they connect to various potential professions.

Laura Trevino, Texas A&M

“I do believe that for the uninitiated, it would serve well as a supplement to a sort of feature article outlining the basics of CHWs. ”

Dwain Harris, CEO of National AHEC Organization

The CHW Career Web 

As the Community Health Worker profession grows, it is helpful to know what other fields CHWs might come from or move to over the course of their careers. This information can help organizations have a better understanding of where and how to recruit qualified CHWs and how to encourage career growth for those that have already established themselves in the profession. With the help of our own CHWs, we created this Career Web infographic and report to help visualize the unique career paths CHWs can take. Like a web, the many paths that can lead to CHW work or onto other options can go in many directions to serve ourselves and our communities.

This resource introduces apprenticeships for CHWs. It provides information on key components, best practices, and insights on the benefits for both CHWs and employers.

This infographic provides examples of the various career paths options for CHWs as a web. Each career path is classified into five categories: clinical work, social work, education, CHW management, and advocacy. Follow the dotted paths to get a quick visual of the variety of ways move into CHW work or on to other professions.

This report expands on the Career Web Infographic by providing an in-depth exploration of the different careers and paths that Community Health Workers may follow. The report, which is designed for organizations that work with the CHW workforce or within the CHW profession, includes profiles of each of the careers, graphs that showcase the overlap of characteristics between CHWs and other careers, and examples of career paths individuals can take to move into a CHW position or on to a related profession.

This blog series highlights the journey of individuals’ professional development into roles within and outside of the CHW profession. Each month will feature a different story related to professions such as clinical work, social work, and education.