Community Health Worker

What is a Community Health Worker?

A Community Health Worker is an individual who acts as a link between health services and the members of a community. The goal is to facilitate the development of strategies for improving public health overall, as well as the well-being of individuals and groups within the community.

Job Responsibilities

The daily duties of Community Health Workers do vary according to their particular employment situations. Here are some basic duties that Community Health Workers are commonly responsible for in the workplace:

• Educate people about the availability of healthcare services in their communities and their importance to health and well-being.
• Collect data on health concerns in their community as a whole, as well as the concerns of specific populations or groups.
• Report collected data to health educators and healthcare providers.
• Discuss health concerns with members of the community.
• Conduct community outreach programs and events.
• Advocate for the needs of communities, groups and individuals.
• Facilitate access to healthcare and related services.
• Provide social support and informal counseling to community members.

The typical Community Health Worker is based in an office environment, but often spends a great deal of time in the field, interacting with individuals and/or groups in their communities as they carry out the duties listed above.

Community Health Worker: Career Outlook

Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 6,600 openings for health education specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

An emphasis on promoting healthy behaviors is expected to increase demand for these specialists over the decade.

Governments, healthcare providers, and social services providers want to find ways to improve the quality of care and health outcomes while reducing costs. This objective should increase demand for health education specialists to teach people about health and wellness, which in turn helps to prevent costly diseases and medical procedures.

While these facts and figures can provide a general idea of career prospects in this field, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It is not to be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither Bryant & Stratton College nor BLS can guarantee employment in this field of work or any other.

Becoming a Community Health Worker

Community Health Workers must have a high school diploma, and in most cases, some postsecondary (college-level) education – which generally means graduating from a diploma or certificate program geared towards human and/or social service. Bryant & Stratton College offers a Human and Social Service Diploma program that can provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue Community Health Worker positions in as little as two semesters with a full-time study schedule.

Additional Training/Requirements

Individuals applying for Community Health Worker positions often must undergo criminal background checks and/or drug testing as a condition of employment. Additional, more stringent background screening may be a factor in employment settings that require interaction with children or the disabled on a regular basis. Many employers require that newly hired Community Health Workers undergo a short period of on the job training to learn about the processes, policies, workflow and clients involved with their specific workplace setting. Some states may require Community Health Workers to obtain state-approved certifications to qualify for employment. Voluntary certifications can be earned in many states in order to help increase an individual’s value to employers.

For more information on the Human and Social Service field, please visit the Degree Insights section on the Bryant & Stratton College blog. By exploring the blog and our website, you’ll find further career insights to help you plan a solid path for launching an interesting, satisfying and successful career.