Community Health Workers :: Job Description

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Community Health Workers

Careers / Community Health Workers

Summary Description


	Assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. May provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs, and provide services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Apprise Counselor

2.	Assistant Director of Nutrition and Wellness Programs

3.	Chief Program Officer

4.	Community Health Advisor

5.	Community Health Advocate

6.	Community Health Agent

7.	Community Health Counselor

8.	Community Health Navigator

9.	Community Health Outreach Worker

10.	Community Health Program Coordinator

11.	Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep)

12.	Community Health Promoter

13.	Community Health Representative

14.	Community Health Worker (CHW)

15.	Community Nutrition Educator

16.	Health Advocate

17.	Health Navigator

18.	Health Outreach Worker

19.	HIV CTS Specialist (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Counseling and Testing Services Specialist)

20.	Lay Health Advocate

21.	Peer Health Promoter

22.	Public Health Outreach Worker

23.	Public Health Worker

Job Tasks

	Perform basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening. Provide basic health care services.

	Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information. Maintain client records.

	Advise clients or community groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings, such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings. Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

	Advise clients or community groups on issues related to risk or prevention of conditions such as lead poisoning, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), prenatal substance abuse, or domestic violence. Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

	Administer immunizations or other basic preventive treatments. Provide basic health care services.

	Identify the particular health care needs of individuals in a community or target area. Assess individual or community needs for educational or social services.

	Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise. Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

	Conduct home visits for pregnant women, newborn infants, or other high-risk individuals to monitor their progress or assess their needs. Visit individuals in their homes to provide support or information.

	Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management. Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

	Transport or accompany clients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites. Transport clients to appointments.

	Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.

	Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community. Provide educational materials to community members.

	Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions. Monitor clients to evaluate treatment progress. Confer with clients to discuss treatment plans or progress.

	Refer community members to needed health services. Refer clients to community or social service programs.

	Advocate for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers. Advocate for individual or community needs.

	Teach appropriate parenting behaviors to individuals or families. Teach life skills or strategies to clients or their families.

	Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required. Recommend legal actions.

	Advise clients or community groups on issues related to sanitation or hygiene, such as flossing or hand washing. Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

	Teach classes or otherwise disseminate medical or dental health information to school groups, community groups, or targeted families or individuals, in a manner consistent with cultural norms. Lead classes or community events. Provide educational materials to community members.

	Collect information from individuals to compile vital statistics about the general health of community members. Collect information about community health needs.

	Assist families to apply for social services, including Medicaid or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Help clients get needed services or resources.

	Advise clients or community groups on issues related to social or intellectual development, such as education, childcare, or problem solving. Advise others on social or educational issues.

	Provide basic health services, such as first aid. Provide basic health care services.

	Interpret, translate, or provide cultural mediation related to health services or information for community members. Interpret cultural or religious information for others.

	Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members. Develop working relationships with others to facilitate program activities.

	Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups. Monitor nutrition related activities of individuals or groups.

	Advise clients or community groups to ensure parental understanding of the importance of childhood immunizations and how to access immunization services. Advise clients or community groups on health issues.

	Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health. Plan programs to address community health issues.

	Provide feedback to health service providers regarding improving service accessibility or acceptability.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Health Educators and Community Health Workers
	Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities. Community health workers collect data and discuss health concerns with members of specific populations or communities.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Health Educators and Community Health Workers
	Health educators and community health workers work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government, doctors' offices, private businesses, and colleges. They generally work full time.

	Read More >>

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Interesting Fact

In the 18th and 19th century, hatmakers used poisionous chemicals including mercury in their work. As result, many developed pathological symptons -- an estimated 10% went insane. Hence the term "mad as a hatter" and Lewis Carroll's character, the Mad Hatter.

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