An experienced community health worker describes her experiences in the field as a basis for recommended guidelines for the role, philosophy, aims, and goals of community health workers. The role of the community health worker as a member of the health care team is explored, and the problem of recognition for community health workers is considered along with the need for and problems involved with continuing education. The author offers some attitudinal and behavioral guidelines for facilitating continued study in the health care field based on her own described developmental experience. In conclusion, concrete suggestions are presented for community health workers to organize and gain recognition. Appendixes consist of a community health worker pledge, self-evaluation forms, a community health worker job description and title definition, recommended readings, and a description of the West Valley College community health worker associate degree program. (NJ)