Are you interested in health care? Do you want to make a difference in your community?
A community health worker serves as a link between the community and the health care, government, and social service systems.
They have in-depth knowledge of the communities they serve, identify health-related issues that affect a community, and take care of members of the community who may not be cared for by traditional medical facilities.
Many health care providers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based groups have created paid positions for community health workers to help reduce or eliminate the discrepancies in health care and health outcomes in underprivileged communities.
This often includes people of all different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, migrant workers and immigrants, and individuals who are not insured. Community health workers help culturally diverse populations and underserved communities receive the proper medical attention.
A community health worker’s responsibilities may include:
Community health workers address any road blocks to care, and offer referrals to programs for such needs as housing, food, education, and mental health services. They also explain the benefits that these programs offer. Community health workers also provide some basic health services as well, such as first aid and some types of health screening.
Community health workers report to health educators and healthcare providers. They share their findings so that the educators can create new programs or adjust existing programs to better suit the needs of the community. Community health workers also advocate for the health needs of community members, conduct outreach to involve community residents, and help to improve care coordination.
Some community health workers work in health facilities, government agencies, and nonprofit groups. They work in all geographical areas – rural, urban and metropolitan.
They often live in the community they serve, and spend time traveling within the community, speaking to groups, visiting homes and health care facilities, and distributing information.
Community health workers are also found working in underprivileged communities where people may have limited resources, don’t have access to quality health care, don’t have the means to pay for health care, or have different cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors from those of the Western health care system.
Salary range for the majority Community health workers – from KSH20,000 to KSH125,000 per month.
Growth will be driven by efforts to improve health outcomes and to reduce healthcare costs by teaching people healthy behaviors and explaining how to use available healthcare services.
Governments, healthcare providers, and social services providers want to find ways to improve the quality of care and health outcomes while reducing costs. This should increase demand for health education specialists and community health workers to teach people about health and wellness, which in turn can help to prevent costly diseases and medical procedures.
Educational requirements for community health workers vary depending on the employer.
Generally, a bachelor’s degree in health science is required. Employers also look for those who are able to speak the language of the community they will serve. Often, this means that community health workers must be bilingual to work in certain areas.
Some employers may require the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential. Positions in the government or public health agencies require a master’s or doctoral degree. Graduate programs are commonly in community health, public health, health science, or health promotion.
