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.
What is this job like?
- Advise clients or community groups to ensure parental understanding of the importance of childhood immunizations and how to access immunization services.
- Provide basic health services, such as first aid.
- Teach appropriate parenting behaviors to individuals or families.
- Report incidences of child or elder abuse, neglect, or threats of harm to authorities, as required.
- 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.
- Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
- Interpret, translate, or provide cultural mediation related to health services or information for community members.
- 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.
- Refer community members to needed health services.
- Conduct home visits for pregnant women, newborn infants, or other high-risk individuals to monitor their progress or assess their needs.
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to self-care, such as diabetes management.
- Administer immunizations or other basic preventive treatments.
- 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.
- Perform basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.
- Transport or accompany clients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites.
- 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.
- Identify the particular health care needs of individuals in a community or target area.
- Collect information from individuals to compile vital statistics about the general health of community members.
- Assist families to apply for social services, including Medicaid or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
- Advise clients or community groups on issues related to social or intellectual development, such as education, childcare, or problem solving.
- Monitor nutrition of children, elderly, or other high-risk groups.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
- Maintain updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
- Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
- 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 improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- Contact clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$32,180
$46,190
$73,730
$15.47
$22.21
$35.45