Jordan Ellis
Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of the communities they serve. They are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organizations, and play an important role in promoting health and wellness within their communities. CHWs help individuals adopt healthy behaviors, implement programs, and advocate for people with limited access to health resources and social services. They also assist in coordinating care, providing basic health screenings, and offering coaching and social support for issues like nutrition, mental health, and substance use disorders. CHWs have been effective in delivering care for chronic conditions and reducing stigma associated with mental illness. Their role is particularly valuable in areas with a shortage of doctors, such as in some developing countries, and they often receive on-the-job training to attain competency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Settings | Hospitals, public health departments, community-based organizations |
| Work | Full-time |
| Qualifications | High school diploma, some employers prefer postsecondary education |
| Training | On-the-job training, some states require certification |
| Median Annual Wage (as of May 2024) | $51,030 |
| Job Outlook (2023-2033) | Projected to grow 13% |
| Job Openings (average per year) | 7,500 |
| Roles | Promote wellness, educate communities, implement programs, advocate for access to health resources and social services, coordinate care, provide coaching and social support |
| Titles | Community health representatives, promotores de la salud, peer support specialists |
| Global Presence | Developing countries, especially Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Impact | Reduced infant mortality rate, improved maternal mortality rate, effective care for chronic conditions, increased mental health service utilization |
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What You'll Learn
Community health workers are employed in hospitals
Community health workers provide basic health screenings and deliver preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. They may also collect data to help identify community health needs. In many developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, community health workers are trained in colleges of health technology to equip them with the knowledge to carry out advanced health services in rural areas. These workers spend about 70% of their time attending to patients and 30% in the community.
Community health workers have also been effective in delivering care for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as increasing mental health service utilization and decreasing stigma. They play a crucial role in assisting patients with navigating a complex healthcare system. For example, in Philadelphia, community health workers implemented a standardized intervention that led to improved patient-perceived quality of care and reduced hospitalization among low-income populations.
Community health workers may have different titles depending on the population they serve. For instance, community health representatives increase health knowledge and access to care for Tribal communities, while promotores de la salud address barriers to healthcare and social services in Spanish-speaking communities. Employment of community health workers is projected to grow faster than average, with about 7,500 openings projected each year.
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They promote wellness and healthy behaviours
Community health workers (CHWs) are indeed employed in hospitals, as well as in public health departments and community-based organisations. They promote wellness and healthy behaviours by implementing and facilitating access to health programmes, advocating for people with limited access to health resources, and providing education and coaching on health topics.
CHWs are often members of the communities they serve, which gives them a close understanding of the community's unique needs. This trusting relationship enables them to act as intermediaries between healthcare providers and the community. They can identify health-related issues, collect data, and discuss the community's health concerns. They also provide coaching and social support, such as nutrition training, recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders, and chronic disease management and prevention.
CHWs play a crucial role in promoting health literacy and increasing the use of preventive services. They educate individuals and communities about health topics, disease prevention, nutrition, hygiene, and other wellness practices. This includes implementing culturally tailored health promotion and disease prevention programs, such as providing toolkits on heart disease prevention for specific ethnic groups.
CHWs also support outreach efforts and help improve coordination of care. They may have different titles depending on the population they serve, such as community health representatives or peer support specialists. They often have personal experience relevant to the communities they serve, such as mental health recovery or cultural and linguistic familiarity.
CHWs are well-positioned to bridge the divide between the medical system and marginalised communities, helping to reduce health disparities and improve health equity. They can provide emotional support for patients and families, and their effectiveness has been demonstrated in aiding populations that underutilise palliative care.
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They advocate for health needs and social services
Community health workers are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organisations. They promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviours and advocating for health needs and social services.
Community health workers implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services. They work closely with other healthcare and social service providers, including registered nurses, social workers, and mental health counselors. They also coordinate care among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems.
Community health workers may have different titles, depending on the population they serve. For example, community health representatives increase health knowledge and access to care for Tribal communities. Promotores de la salud reduce barriers to healthcare and social services in Spanish-speaking communities. Peer support specialists have experienced mental health issues or substance use disorders and provide support to others facing similar challenges.
Community health workers are trusted members of their communities and can share information and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviours on a range of health issues. They can play a crucial role in educating their communities about specific diseases, such as heart disease, by implementing culturally tailored health promotion and disease prevention programs. They also provide basic health screenings, coaching, and social support, including nutrition training and chronic disease management.
Overall, community health workers play an essential role in advocating for health needs and social services, improving access to healthcare, and promoting wellness in their communities. They serve as a vital link between individuals, communities, and the healthcare system.
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They provide basic health screenings
Community health workers are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organizations. They are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of the community they serve. They have an unusually close understanding of the community, which enables them to serve as a link between health and social services and the community. This trusting relationship helps facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
Community health workers provide basic health screenings and first aid. They promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors and implement programs. They advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services. They coordinate care among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems.
Community health workers provide coaching and social support, such as nutrition training, recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders, and chronic disease management and prevention. They increase individual and community participation in assessments and education to improve health and well-being. They act as intermediaries between their clients and providers of healthcare and social services.
Community health workers may have different titles, depending on the population they serve. For example, community health representatives increase health knowledge and access to care for Tribal communities. Promotores de la salud reduce barriers to healthcare and social services in Spanish-speaking communities. Peer support specialists have experienced a mental health or substance use disorder and are in recovery while providing support to others experiencing similar challenges.
Community health workers play an important role in educating their communities about various health issues, such as heart disease, by implementing culturally tailored health promotion and disease prevention programs. They can share information and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors to help reduce health disparities.
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They are trained to carry out advanced health services
Community health workers (CHWs) are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organizations. They are trained to carry out advanced health services and promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviours. CHWs implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services. They are also involved in coordinating care, providing coaching and social support, and conducting basic health screenings and first aid.
CHWs are trusted members of their communities and play an important role in educating their communities about health issues, such as heart disease, by implementing culturally tailored health promotion and disease prevention programs. They share information and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviours, addressing a range of health issues to help reduce health disparities. CHWs facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. They bridge communication between patients and their healthcare providers, including social workers, nurses, and physicians.
CHWs in primary care (CHW-PCs) are defined as trained individuals with limited to no formal medical education who provide patient-facing support and services. They carry out functions that are person-centred, supporting team-based care, addressing social determinants of health, and promoting healthcare access, patient engagement, and outcomes. CHW-PCs have been found to be particularly effective when they share ethnicity, language, socioeconomic status, and life experiences with the communities they serve. They enhance the understanding of patients' situations and needs, providing clinical services, community resource connections, and health education and coaching.
CHWs may have different titles depending on the population they serve. For example, community health representatives increase health knowledge and access to care for Tribal communities, while promotores de la salud reduce barriers to healthcare and social services in Spanish-speaking communities. CHWs work closely with other healthcare and social service providers, including registered nurses, social workers, and mental health counselors. They may travel to various settings to interact with community members and often have personal experience or gain experience by working in community development, public health, or social outreach.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, community health workers are employed in hospitals, public health departments, and community-based organizations.
Community health workers promote health within their communities by helping individuals adopt healthy behaviors. They implement programs and advocate for people who may have limited access to health resources and social services. They also coordinate care among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems.
Community health workers provide basic health screenings, coaching, and social support. This includes nutrition training, recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders, and chronic disease management and prevention. They also assist in navigating the complex healthcare system and act as a link between health/social services and the community.
To become a community health worker, a high school diploma is typically required, and some employers prefer candidates with postsecondary education. Community health workers then receive on-the-job training, and in some states, certification is required. In certain countries like Iran and Liberia, community health workers receive specific training to address issues like universal health coverage and maternal mortality.
