Community Health Worker

Job Summary:

The Community Health Worker will help individuals and communities adopt healthy behaviors and will conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Identifies or contacts members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women. Advises clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health such as diet or exercise.
• Attends community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or to build
  relationships with community members. Distributes flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community. Collects information from individuals to compile vital statistics about the general health of community members.
• Advises clients or community groups on issues related to risk prevention (i.e. HIV), diagnostic screenings such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings. Performs basic diagnostic procedures such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.
• Conducts home visits for pregnant women, newborn infants, or other high-risk individuals to monitor their progress or to assess their needs.
• Transports or accompanies clients to scheduled health appointments or referral sites.
• Advocates for individual or community health needs with government agencies or health service providers. Teaches appropriate parenting behaviors to individuals or families.
• Assists families to apply for social services including Medicaid or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Interprets, translates, or provides cultural mediation related to health services or information for community members.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of community health resources.
• Understanding of general medical terminology and basic medical procedures.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse population and establish trust.
• Effective active listening skills and social perceptiveness.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in healthcare related field required. Masters degree preferred.
• Three to five years of related experience required.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. May be required to stand for prolonged periods of time, climb stairs, and perform strenuous activity.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.