The Tennessee Community Health Worker Association (TNCHWA) is a nonprofit organization and our mission is to empower Community Health Workers (CHWs) individually and as a profession through advocacy and support to advance a healthier Tennessee. Our vision is to be the primary and trusted organization for community health workers in Tennessee, supporting their endeavors to enhance health outcomes. Recognizing CHWs as critical members of the public health workforce, TNCHWA is committed to providing professional growth and development, advancing the CHW profession, and amplifying the invaluable contributions CHWs make to their communities.
Supporting CHWs is one of the best ways to address health equity and inclusivity and to improve community and population health outcomes. Research has demonstrated that CHWs promote health by bridging gaps between healthcare services, community resources, and marginalized groups. CHWs address Social Drivers of Health and the root causes of health inequities, promote access to health care, and empower individuals to take control of their health and well-being.
A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health professional who is a trusted member of or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison or link between health and social service agencies and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
A community health worker builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy. Additionally, a CHW is a lifelong learner who stays current by participating in competency-based training or gaining experience through practice-based interactions with clients on the job.
(This TNCHWA definition was adopted from the American Public Health Association (APHA) and includes feedback from Tennessee CHWs).
Community Health Worker is a broad term encompassing various titles, including Home Visitor, Promotora, Health Navigator, Health Educator, Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker, and Community Health Outreach Worker, among others.
If you are interested in learning more about CHWs or supporting our work, we encourage you to explore our website and get in touch with us.
Join our community today and become a part of a movement to advance a healthier TN.
TNCHWA was initially established as a community coalition called the Tennessee Community Health Worker Collaborative (the Collaborative). The Collaborative was created based on community interest from CHWs and CHW allies, as well as a recognized need in the state of Tennessee for education and advocacy regarding CHWs.
In 2016 the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance (MVA) convened a roundtable, facilitated by a national expert, focused on the role of CHWs in community engagement and community health, providing an opportunity for networking, learning, and sharing about the CHW landscape in Tennessee. Roundtable members recognized the need for a coalition—and eventually a statewide association–to formally support CHWs. In addition to MVA, the Collaborative’s founding partners include the Tennessee Department of Health, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Siloam Health, Tennessee Primary Care Association, Ballad Health, Barbara Clinton and Associates, VUMC’s Office of Health Equity and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.
Between 2016 and 2020 the Collaborative engaged over one-hundred individuals from across the state of Tennessee representing community organizations, government agencies, community health centers, health systems and academic institutions, among others. Early products include a 2017 national scan of the roles of community health worker statewide associations in 38 states and a 2019 statewide survey of 55 programs focused on CHWs in Tennessee. In 2020, the Collaborative also hosted the first statewide conference of CHWs in Tennessee, which brought together CHWs and other stakeholders across the state. The Meharry Vanderbilt Alliance provided programmatic and funding support to these efforts and organized on-going webinars to share successes of CHW programs across the state.
After four years of organizing and convening, the Collaborative secured seed funding to create TNCHWA and the first Executive Director was hired in November 2021. In 2022, TNCHWA initiated a five-year strategic plan and focused on establishing the organization’s mission and vision and creating essential governance structures. TNCHWA incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, nominated a board of directors and established steering committee subcommittees. In 2023 TNCHWA drafted CHW competencies with input from key partners, launched the CHW Training Program of Tennessee, expanded personnel and created a website. In 2024 TNCHWA piloted CHW program accreditation and bestowed accreditation on four CHW programs in Tennessee. In 2025 TNCHWA will launch a membership program and welcome both individual and organization memberships.
Individuals from across the state representing community organizations, government agencies, health centers, hospitals, health systems and academic institutions have contributed to TNCHWA’s growth.
TNCHWA, established in 2021, empowers and supports community health workers (CHWs) in Tennessee. As the primary organization for CHWs in the state, we promote their vital role in improving health outcomes for residents.
Tennessee Community Health Worker Association
955 Woodland St,
Nashville, TN 37206
info@tnchwa.org