Illinois § 5-5

§ 5-5.

Definition. In this Act, "community health worker" means a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the community health worker to serve as a liaison, link, and intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities, including outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. A community health worker shall have the following core competencies: (1) communication; (2) interpersonal skills and relationship building; (3) service coordination and navigation skills; (4) capacity-building; (5) advocacy; (6) presentation and facilitation skills; (7) organizational skills; cultural competency; (8) public health knowledge; (9) understanding of health systems and basic diseases; (10) behavioral health issues; and (11) field experience. Nothing in this definition shall be construed to authorize a community health worker to provide direct care or treatment to any person or to perform any act or service for which a license issued by a professional licensing board is required. (Source: P.A. 102-4, eff. 4-27-21.)