A free, independent platform built for CHWs — in the clinic, in the field, or anywhere in between. Find local resources, share plain-language health education, and navigate complex care situations with confidence.
Find local resources fastEnter a zip code and category — food, housing, mental health, benefits — and get to the right resource immediately.
Share patient education materialsPlain-language handouts on common conditions — ready to print or share from your phone.
Navigate complex situationsGuidance on referrals, documentation, resistant patients, and follow-through.
Ask anythingGet a structured starting point for any patient situation — no login, no wait.
Community health workers operate at the intersection of clinical care and community life. This tool is built for that reality — fast, practical, and independent of any commercial interest.
Working alongside providers to connect patients to the social services and community resources that clinical care alone can't address.
Doing home visits, community outreach, and case navigation — often without a desk or a reliable system to pull from in the moment.
Serving broad populations across public health programs — WIC, immunizations, maternal health, chronic disease management — often with limited support tools.
CHWs already navigate enough competing interests. This tool has none of its own.
We never earn money from directing patients to any service or provider.
Open in any browser, on any device. No account, no password, no data collected.
No subscriptions, no freemium tiers. Free now, free always.
Built for how CHWs actually work — not for administrators, not for EHR vendors.
Use the tool that fits what you need right now.
Enter your zip code and resource category. We'll route you to the right databases — food, housing, mental health, transportation, benefits, and more.
Go to Find Resources →Plain-language handouts on diabetes, hypertension, prenatal care, mental health, and more. Designed to share directly with patients.
Go to Health Education →Guidance on referrals, resistant patients, documentation, follow-up, and navigating systems that don't always work together.
Go to Care Coordination →Describe your patient's situation and get a structured starting point — what to look for, who to call, what to ask.
Go to Ask a Question →Enter your patient's location and the type of resource you need. We'll guide you to the right databases and directories — vetted, free, and up to date.
Enter a zip code or city to find resources in their area. Select a category to narrow results.
📍 Start here for any location: 211.org is the national social services directory — enter any zip code to find every vetted local resource across all categories. It's the most comprehensive starting point available.
Call ahead when possible. Waitlists, eligibility requirements, and hours change frequently. Verify before referring a patient to avoid a wasted trip.
Make a warm referral. A call from you to the agency is more effective than handing a patient a phone number. Ask if they accept direct CHW referrals.
Know the eligibility basics. Income thresholds, residency requirements, and documentation needs vary. Ask the agency what patients need to bring before their first contact.
Follow up. A referral isn't complete until you know whether the patient connected. A single follow-up call significantly increases follow-through rates.
These resources work for patients in any state. Use them as a starting point or a backup when local resources are limited.
The national 2-1-1 system connects people to local health and human services — food, housing, utilities, mental health, childcare, and more. Enter any zip code to find vetted local resources. Available by phone (dial 2-1-1) or online.
The federal government's directory connecting families to their local Area Agency on Aging. Essential for patients 60+ who need home care, Medicaid navigation, meal delivery, or caregiver support. Enter any zip code.
The official U.S. government benefits finder. Helps patients identify what federal programs they may qualify for — SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, housing assistance, veterans benefits, and more.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national treatment locator. Find substance use disorder treatment facilities, mental health providers, and opioid treatment programs by zip code. Includes sliding-scale and free options.
Find federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) — community health centers that provide care regardless of a patient's ability to pay. Sliding-scale fees. Available in every state.
A nonprofit database of patient assistance programs for prescription medications. Helps uninsured and underinsured patients get brand-name and generic drugs at low or no cost directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Plain-language summaries on common conditions — written for patients, shareable from your phone or printable at the clinic. Expand any topic to read the full content.
📋 How to use these: Expand any topic to read the full patient-facing content. You can read it aloud with a patient, share it from your phone screen, or print it. All materials are written at a 6th–8th grade reading level and avoid clinical jargon.
Education materials for patients managing type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes means your body has trouble using sugar (glucose) for energy. When you eat, your body turns food into sugar. Normally, a hormone called insulin helps sugar move from your blood into your cells. With type 2 diabetes, your cells don't respond to insulin the way they should. Sugar builds up in your blood instead of getting into your cells.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. The good news: managing your blood sugar can prevent or delay these problems. Small changes add up to a big difference.
You do not need to buy expensive "diabetic" foods. The same foods that are healthy for everyone are healthy for people with diabetes — you just need to pay attention to portions and what raises your blood sugar fastest.
If your patient is having trouble affording food, connect them to their local food pantry (search 211.org) or help them apply for SNAP benefits at benefits.gov.
Education materials for patients with high blood pressure or at risk.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. When it's too high — called hypertension — it strains your heart and damages your blood vessels over time. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, which is why it's called the "silent killer."
Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Keeping your numbers in range — through medication, diet, and lifestyle — significantly reduces your risk.
Materials for patients experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression — or for normalizing mental health conversations.
Anxiety is more than regular worry. It's when your mind and body stay in "high alert" mode even when there's no immediate danger. Common signs include: racing thoughts, fast heartbeat, trouble sleeping, tension in your muscles, avoiding situations that feel scary, or feeling on edge most of the time.
Anxiety is one of the most common health conditions in the world. It's not a sign of weakness. Your brain is responding to stress in a way that's gotten stuck on "on." The good news is that it responds well to treatment.
If anxiety is preventing you from going to work, caring for your family, or leaving the house — or if you're having thoughts of hurting yourself — call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.
Depression is not sadness. It's a medical condition that changes how your brain functions. It causes persistent low mood, low energy, and loss of interest in things you used to enjoy — and it's not something you can simply "push through" or "cheer up" out of.
Most people with depression improve significantly with treatment — therapy, medication, or both. The key is reaching out. Ask your provider for a referral to a counselor or use findtreatment.gov to find sliding-scale mental health services.
Call or text 988 anytime, day or night. You can also text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Materials for pregnant patients and new mothers.
Regular prenatal visits allow your provider to catch problems early — before they become serious. Even if you feel fine, keep every appointment. Most problems in pregnancy develop without obvious symptoms.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides free nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and health referrals to income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women. Apply through your state WIC program or find your local office at wic.fns.usda.gov.
General materials for patients managing ongoing health conditions.
Many medications for chronic conditions — blood pressure, diabetes, depression, asthma — work by building up in your system over time. Missing doses doesn't just mean one skipped day. It can undo the progress your body has made and cause your condition to worsen quickly.
Practical guidance for navigating complex patient situations — referrals, resistant patients, documentation, and working across systems that don't always connect.
A referral handed to a patient is often a referral that doesn't happen. Here's how to make them stick.
Waitlists change, funding runs out, eligibility requirements shift. Before referring a patient, call the agency or check their website. Key questions: Are you accepting new clients? What does the patient need to bring? Is there a waitlist, and how long is it?
A warm referral — where you call or email the agency directly, introduce the patient's situation, and confirm they will be served — is dramatically more effective than handing a patient a phone number. Many agencies accept direct CHW referrals and will hold a spot.
Transportation, childcare, work schedule, language, fear of the system — identify barriers during your conversation and problem-solve them before the patient walks out the door. A patient who can't get there won't go, regardless of how good the referral is.
Record: the agency referred to, the date, the patient's stated plan, any barriers identified, and any action you took (called ahead, scheduled appointment, etc.). This protects the patient and protects you.
A single follow-up call or visit — within 5–7 days — significantly increases follow-through. Ask: Did you connect with the agency? Did anything get in the way? What do you need next? This is where CHW impact is often highest.
💡 Tip: Keep a personal resource log — a simple note on your phone of the agencies you've successfully referred to, the contact person, and any helpful notes. It becomes an invaluable local directory over time.
Resistance isn't refusal — it's usually fear, past experience, or a practical barrier in disguise. Here's how to navigate it.
Acknowledge their self-sufficiency. Ask: "What would it look like if things got a little easier?" Focus on one specific, small benefit rather than the full range of what's available. Sometimes the goal is just planting a seed.
Validate the frustration. Ask what happened before and why it didn't work. This gives you information about real barriers and shows you're listening, not just running through a checklist. Then address the specific thing that went wrong.
This is often about trust and past experiences with institutions. Be transparent about what information is shared and with whom. Emphasize what's confidential. Start with resources that don't require much disclosure.
These are practical barriers, not values. Problem-solve directly: Is there a closer resource? A phone or telehealth option? Can you schedule it during a time that works? Does the agency offer transportation assistance?
⚠️ Know your limits: Your role is to connect and support — not to force. Respecting patient autonomy means accepting that some patients will decline resources, even ones they need. Document that you offered, what they declined, and any reasons they gave. This is not a failure.
Good documentation protects patients, protects you, and makes your work visible to the people who fund it.
Date, duration, patient name (or ID), what was discussed, what was offered, what the patient decided, and any follow-up planned. A brief note is better than none.
Agency name, date referred, method (warm call, written referral, handed phone number), patient's stated intention, and follow-up date. If the patient declined, note that too.
Document what you observed and what the patient said, not your interpretation. "Patient stated she does not want to pursue housing assistance at this time" — not "patient refused housing help."
Did the patient connect with the resource? Did they keep the appointment? Outcome data is what programs use to demonstrate impact to funders. Even a simple yes/no follow-up note matters.
One of the hardest parts of CHW work is coordinating care across organizations that don't share information. A few practices that help:
Get written consent early. A signed release of information (ROI) form allows you to communicate across organizations on the patient's behalf. Most agencies have their own form — carry a blank one and explain what it allows.
Be the connector, not the courier. Instead of passing information back and forth, get the relevant providers on the same call when possible. A 10-minute three-way call saves weeks of phone tag.
Know your local ADRC or 211 coordinator. Area Agencies on Aging and 211 coordinators often know the local system better than anyone. A relationship with one person there is worth dozens of cold calls.
Help patients keep their own records. A simple folder with insurance cards, medication lists, and provider contact information helps patients navigate appointments even when systems aren't coordinated.
Describe your patient's situation and get a structured starting point — what to look for, who to call, what questions to ask. Select a common scenario or type your own.
⚠️ Important: This tool provides general guidance for community health workers. It does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment. For medical emergencies, call 911. For mental health crises, call 988.
Select a scenario to see structured guidance, or type your own question below.
Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Available 24/7, free, confidential. Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).
988lifeline.org →National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233. Text START to 88788. Available 24/7.
thehotline.org →SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referrals for individuals and families.
samhsa.gov →Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453. 24/7. For mandatory reporting guidance, contact your local child protective services agency.
childhelp.org →