“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. 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.
     “Department” means the Department of Public Health.