Abstract

Problem: Research articles describing community health worker (CHW) programs often focus on program activities and short-term outcomes, failing to assess CHWs’ long-term contributions to improving individual and community health. Reflecting this, CHWs are supported by short-term public and private funding.

Purpose: To inform policies that will potentially increase support and funding for CHW work, specific research is needed providing evidence of CHW effectiveness. This article describes the development of a CHW research agenda by and for the field.

Key Points: CHWs, researchers, and stakeholders (policy makers, funders, others) collaborated during and after a conference to develop and refine a 164 question agenda targeting six areas (Table 1).

Conclusions: Key research areas identified by the agenda development participants include:

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    CHW impact on health status;

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    CHW cost effectiveness;

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    Building CHW capacity and sustaining CHWs on the job;

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    Funding options;

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    CHWs as capacity builders; and

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    CHWs promoting real access to care.

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