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Career Details

21-1094.00 - 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.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
54,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
62,400
Estimate
Change in Employment
+8,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+14.9%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
  • Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
  • Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
  • Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
  • Identify or contact members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
  • Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
  • Refer community members to needed health services.
Supplemental
  • Administer immunizations or other basic preventive treatments.
  • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings, such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings.
  • 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.
  • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to sanitation or hygiene, such as flossing or hand washing.
  • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management.
  • Advise clients or community groups on issues related to social or intellectual development, such as education, childcare, or problem solving.
  • Advise clients or community groups to ensure parental understanding of the importance of childhood immunizations and how to access immunization services.
  • Advocate for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers.
  • Conduct home visits for pregnant women, newborn infants, or other high-risk individuals to monitor their progress or assess their needs.
  • Identify the particular health care needs of individuals in a community or target area.
  • Interpret, translate, or provide cultural mediation related to health services or information for community members.
  • Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
  • Perform basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.
  • Provide basic health services, such as first aid.
  • Provide feedback to health service providers regarding improving service accessibility or acceptability.
  • Teach appropriate parenting behaviors to individuals or families.
  • Teach classes or otherwise disseminate medical or dental health information to school groups, community groups, or targeted families or individuals, in a manner consistent with cultural norms.
  • Assist families to apply for social services, including Medicaid or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
  • Collect information from individuals to compile vital statistics about the general health of community members.
  • Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health.
  • Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required.
  • Transport or accompany clients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 90%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 English Language
  • 79%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Education and Training
  • 76%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Administration and Management
  • 74%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 72%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Psychology
  • 71%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Clerical
  • 67%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 60%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Therapy and Counseling
  • 59%
    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 58%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Biology
  • 54%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Mathematics
  • 52%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Philosophy and Theology
  • 50%
    Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Blood pressure units and related products
  • Automated blood pressure cuffs
  • Manual blood pressure cuffs
 Computer printers
  • Computer ink jet printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Photocopying equipment
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Data management and query software
  • Client databases
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Electronic health record EHR software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • SmugMug FlickrHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Averett University
Brightpoint Community College
Eastern Mennonite University
Emory & Henry University
George Mason University
Hollins University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
James Madison University
Old Dominion University
Radford University
Regent University
Roanoke College
Tidewater Community College
University of Lynchburg
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Western Community College