Community Health Workers

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Communicable Disease Liaison; Community Health Coordinator; Community Health Outreach Worker; Community Health Program Coordinator; Community Health Program Representative (Community Health Program Rep); Community Health Promoter; Community HIV Education Specialist (Community Human Immunodeficiency Virus Education Specialist); Community Navigator; Community Nutrition Educator; Health Program Specialist

Tasks

• Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required.
• Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
• Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
• Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
• Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management.
• Refer community members to needed health services.
• Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
• Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health.
• Advocate for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers.
• Identify the particular health care needs of individuals in a community or target area.
• 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.
• Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
• Provide feedback to health service providers regarding improving service accessibility or acceptability.
• Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• English Language
• Psychology
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Therapy and Counseling
• Computers and Electronics
• Education and Training
• Administration and Management

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning
• Writing
• Monitoring
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Inductive Reasoning
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility