Utilizing Community Health Advisors in Diabetes Care Management

Community health advisors (CHAs) are community members who work almost exclusively in community settings and serve as connections between health care consumers, providers, and health care organizations. These individuals are an integral part of the health care team and can be instrumental in the success of community diabetes care management programs. This chapter describes the history and background of community health workers, the evolution of their role in the health care system, the current training and development available, and their role in a community diabetes care management program.