Summary Report for:
21-1094.00 - Community Health Workers
Assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations to implement programs in the community that promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health. May provide information on available resources, provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs, and provide services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. May collect data to help identify community health needs.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
Tasks
- 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 improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
- 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.
- Attend community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Electronic blood pressure units — Automated blood pressure cuffs |
| Emergency medical services first aid kits — Emergency first aid kits |
| Facsimile machines — Fax machines |
| Glucose monitors or meters — Blood glucose monitoring equipment |
| Photocopiers — Photocopying equipment |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Data base user interface and query software — Client databases; Microsoft Access |
| Desktop publishing software — Microsoft Publisher |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
Work Values
| Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
| Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. |
| Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Employment data collected from Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other.
Industry data collected from Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other.
| Median wages (2012) | $16.64 hourly, $34,620 annual |
| Employment (2010) | 121,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) | 
Faster than average (20% to 28%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) | 52,600 |
| Top industries (2010) |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
