Community Health Worker

Alt Names: CHW, Family Welfare Educator, Community Health Aide, Community Health Promoter, Health Volunteer, Lay Health Advisor, Village Health Worker (other countries), Health Promoters, Health Agent

Career Description:

Community Health Workers act as the liaison between the health system, and the community for which they are assisting. Acting as the intermediate, the goal of the CHW is to provide communities and neighborhoods with access to information and resources related to health. For example, they would provide people with places to go for dentistry, to get tested for diseases, and so on.

Job Responsibilities:

• Analyze health care needs of patients

• Inform patients of self-care issues such as diabetes management, HIV prevention, High Blood Pressure management, etc

• Connect patients to health care and/or social services resources

• Administer and monitor immunization and medicine to patients as directed by appropriate medical personnel

• Advise patients on issues related to improving general health and medical screenings

Education & Training:

With this career, training and education vary depending on State as well as employer. Below is general education and training requirements:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Health/Social Services and related fields

Training

• Most employers seek someone who is multi-lingual or at least speaks the language(s) most spoken by the environment they will be working in

License & Certifications:

Must obtain certification from accredited program

Salary:

Mean: $37,490 [Source: BLS.Gov]

Valuable Skills and Qualities:

This career is good for people who are:

• Fluent or quick learners of other languages

• Flexible with travel arrangements- Traveling is most likely a requirement

• Social

• Trustworthy

• Empathetic

Work Environment:

Community healthcare clinics, hospitals, community centers, insurance companies