In societies where it is difficult for the state to ensure the provision of healthcare for all its citizens, a community health department can help in maintaining hygienic and healthy communities with voluntary participation by the community itself.
Providing community health services is usually taken up by non-profit and voluntary organizations, who receive funding to carry out their work from a variety of corporate and non-corporate sources, government grants (where available) and individual contributions. A limited number of paid positions may be available, depending on the financial resources of the organization, a majority of community health workers are usually volunteers without pay. You can increase your chances of compensation when working in community health systems by having a strong educational background. Some guidelines on how you can become a community health worker (CHW) are discussed here, though it is important to remember that recruitment and job functions may differ depending on the organization.
Job Description
As a community health worker you may work in community health centers or other government areas of healthcare. The primary duties of a community health worker include, but are not limited to the following.
- Act as a facilitator between the community and public health system and individuals in the community.
- Provide education, counseling and support to needy individuals on basic healthcare, standards of hygiene and access to free or affordable medication and healthcare services.
- Refer people in need of healthcare services to public and government resources, where they can obtain the necessary assistance in dealing with mental and physical health issues, treatment for diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, disabilities, substance abuse, etc.
- Provide assistance with Medicare and Medicaid documentation, maintaining detailed health records and patient information.
- Provide practical services such as first aid, conduct health clinics and/or testing camps, pregnancy and maternity care, nutrition guidelines for different groups such as children, infants and women and immunization services.
Education and Training
Community health workers come from different fields—social workers, doctors, nurses, therapists, caregivers, nutritionists, etc. Each of these professions have their own educational requirements, but at the barest minimum, a four-year bachelor’s degree in any subjects which deal with healthcare, community services or social work, is a must.
Volunteer experience (full time or part time), internships and vacation jobs in community health will increase your chances of being employed in government or public health services. A master’s or doctoral degree in community health and education is required for improving your chances of climbing the organizational ladder.
In the U.S., each state has its own public and community health set-up and the requirements for people who wish to work in this field are varied. There are numerous certificate and diploma courses available across universities, community colleges and other educational institutions, which can provide specialized training in specific fields of community health services. This training will help you attain community health jobs.
Getting Started
As a first step towards becoming a community health worker, research community health services in your city and state. Community health systems will vary depending on your location so research the requirements and community health job positions. Information is usually available with the local public health services department or you can also check with community-based organizations which provide healthcare or other social services. You can also check out information which is available online; organizations such as the CDC or Bureau of Labor Statistics provide a lot of information on community health projects and services.
If you are one of those individuals blessed with a strong community spirit and service ethic, then becoming a community health worker will be the best career for you!