What Does a Community Health Worker Do?
Community health workers serve as liaisons between healthcare providers and communities, particularly underserved populations. They help individuals navigate the healthcare system, promote health education, and connect people with social services. Community health workers are valued for their cultural knowledge and trusted relationships within the communities they serve.
Community Health Worker Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a community health worker include:
- Conduct outreach in neighborhoods, shelters, and community organizations to identify individuals who need health and social services.
- Educate community members on health topics such as nutrition, chronic disease prevention, prenatal care, and immunizations.
- Help individuals schedule medical appointments, arrange transportation, and overcome barriers to accessing care.
- Screen community members for eligibility for social service programs including Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance.
- Provide culturally appropriate health information in languages spoken by community members.
- Follow up with patients after hospital discharge to ensure medication adherence and appointment attendance.
- Collect health data and conduct surveys to assess community health needs and program effectiveness.
- Advocate for community health needs at meetings with healthcare providers, government agencies, and nonprofits.
- Lead group health education sessions, support groups, and wellness workshops.
- Document all client interactions, referrals, and outcomes in program tracking systems.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a community health worker, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Community outreach and engagement
- Health education and promotion
- Cultural competence and language skills
- Resource navigation and referral
- Active listening and motivational interviewing
- Data collection and documentation
- Advocacy and community organizing
- Empathy and trustworthiness
Education and Training
Community health workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, though many employers prefer candidates with some postsecondary education in health education, social work, or public health. Several states offer community health worker certification programs that include training in health education, communication skills, advocacy, and ethical practice. On-the-job training is common and may cover specific health topics, cultural competency, and case management. Some community health workers hold associate or bachelor degrees and use the role as a foundation for careers in public health or social work.
Salary and Job Outlook
Average Salary: $32,000 - $48,000 per year
Employment of community health workers is projected to grow 14% over the next decade, much faster than average. Healthcare systems increasingly recognize that addressing social determinants of health, such as housing, food access, and transportation, improves patient outcomes and reduces costs. Community health workers are central to these efforts. The expansion of Medicaid coverage for community health worker services in many states is creating sustainable funding for these positions. Workers with bilingual skills and deep community ties are especially valuable.