(410 ILCS 67/5-5)

Sec. 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.)