If you would like to help educate the public about health-related issues so that you can promote healthy living and improve the quality of healthcare delivery, you may want to learn about how you can become a community health specialist. A community health worker will work in the front lines where they serve members of the community and help act as a liaison between public health care provides and the community, according to Explore Health Careers.
The main goal of the community worker is to facilitate the access to care to ensure that everyone knows where they can seek healthcare services and why it is so important to see healthcare providers and to live healthy lives. If you would like to pursue a position in the public health sector that does not require a great deal of experience or formal training, read on and learn what you need to take the proper steps to break into the industry.
What Does a Community Health Worker Really Do? Community Health Specialist Job Description
Community specialists in public health can hold many different titles and will wear many different hats. As the middleman who work to foster communication between health providers, community members and the government, a specialist will link people in high-risk demographics and who are unhealthy to the information and the services that they need. Some of the responsibilities that you will hold when you work in this role include: improving social service systems, helping families gain access to resources, facilitating communications between government and the population, advocating for the public need, providing social support, interpreting and providing basic health services. To work in this field you must be understanding, patient and compassionate.
What Do You Need to Do to Work as a Community Health Specialist?
To become a health specialist in the public health sector, you may need to complete formal training first. One of the difficult things about trying to get qualified in this arena is that there is not one right way to do so. To work in community health, you may need a combination of work and educational experience but there is not one set route that you must take. The requirements vary from agency to agency and role to role. Some agencies have higher standards and therefore more employment requirements.
If you want to work as a community health worker who may help the public in a wide range of health-related situations, you can start by graduating high school. Some agencies will hire those with nothing more than a diploma, but if you live in a competitive area taking an education program is helpful. There are both one-year certificate programs and associate’s degree programs that will teach you the skills in cultural awareness and wellness that you need to possess to start on-the-job training, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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The need for community health workers is growing dramatically. The outlook projects that there will be a need for 21,400 new specialists by 2022. If you want to help fill in the gap growing between the supply and demand for community specialists, now is the time to get qualified. Show your commitment to being a part of community outreach and seeking formal training. After just one year of studies, you can apply to become a community health specialist and earn a living helping people.