The following words as used in sections 259 to 262, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:-
"Board", the board of certification of community health workers.
"Board-approved education and training program", a training and education program for community health workers that meets standards established by the board for such education and training.
"Certificate", the document issued by the board to qualified applicants for certification as a community health worker.
"Certification", the voluntary process by which an agency grants recognition and use of a credential to individuals who have met predetermined and standardized requirements.
"Certified community health worker", a community health worker to whom the board has issued a certificate of competency to practice as a certified community health worker.
"Community health worker", a public health worker who applies his unique understanding of the experience, language and culture of the populations he serves through 1 or more of the following roles:
Community health workers may be distinguished from other health professionals in that they:
"Core competencies", a set of overlapping and mutually reinforcing skills and knowledge essential for effective community health work in core areas that include, but are not limited to:
"Practice as a community health worker", use by a community health worker of the education, training and experience in the community health worker core competencies to effectively provide services to the communities and populations he serves through 1 or more of the roles of the community health worker.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, § 259