As used in the Community Health Workers Act:

A. "applicant" means an individual applying to be certified or recertified as a community health worker;

B. "board" means the board of certification of community health workers;

C. "certificate" means the document issued by the department to qualified applicants for certification as community health workers;

D. "certification" means the voluntary process by which the department grants recognition and use of a credential to individuals who are eligible to practice as certified community health workers;

E. "certified community health worker" means a community health worker to whom the department has issued a certificate to practice as a certified community health worker;

F. "community health worker" means a public health worker who applies an understanding of the experience, language and culture of the populations that the individual serves and who provides direct services aimed at optimizing individual and family health outcomes, including:

(1) informal and motivational counseling and education;

(2) interventions to maximize social supports;

(3) care coordination;

(4) facilitation of access to health care and social services;

(5) health screenings; and

(6) other services that the secretary defines by rule;

G. "department" means the department of health;

H. "recertification" means a renewal of certification; and

I. "secretary" means the secretary of health.

History: Laws 2014, ch. 49, § 2.

Effective dates. — Laws 2014, ch. 49 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective May 21, 2014, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.