Description
Community Health Worker (CHW) promotes health and equity by providing outreach, education, care navigation, and advocacy within the community. CHWs build trust, connect residents with healthcare and social services, support prevention and screenings, and collect data to inform programs that improve individual and community health.
- • Coordinate immunization outreach and help clients access vaccines.
- • Educate clients and groups about recommended diagnostic screenings (e.g., mammograms, Pap tests, glaucoma, diabetes).
- • Counsel on healthy lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, sleep, and stress.
- • Provide risk-reduction education on issues such as lead exposure, HIV/STIs, prenatal substance use, and domestic violence; connect to resources.
- • Teach sanitation and hygiene practices, including handwashing and oral health.
- • Coach clients on self-management of chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, asthma).
- • Support social and cognitive development by linking families to education, childcare, or parenting resources.
- • Educate parents about childhood immunizations and how to obtain them.
- • Advocate for clients and communities with health systems, payers, and public agencies.
- • Participate in community meetings, events, and health fairs to build relationships and gather input.
- • Conduct home visits for pregnant people, newborns, or other high-risk clients to assess needs and progress.
- • Follow up with clients in person, by phone, text, or email to support care plan adherence.
- • Distribute culturally appropriate educational materials in target neighborhoods and settings.
- • Identify and engage high-risk or underserved groups, including minorities, low-income residents, or the unhoused.
- • Assess individual and community health needs and barriers to care.
- • Provide interpretation, translation, and cultural mediation to improve understanding of health information and services.
- • Maintain accurate, timely client records, referrals, and care plans.
- • Monitor nutrition and food security for children, older adults, and other high-risk groups; connect to nutrition support.
- • Perform basic health screenings per protocol (e.g., blood pressure, glucose, BMI, rapid tests if trained).
- • Provide basic first aid and triage; escalate emergencies appropriately.
- • Share client and community feedback with providers to improve access, quality, and cultural responsiveness.
- • Link clients to medical, behavioral health, dental, and social services and help schedule appointments.
- • Deliver group classes or one-on-one education consistent with cultural norms and literacy levels.
- • Assist clients in applying for benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC and in completing forms.
- • Collect and report data to track outcomes and identify community health trends.
- • Collaborate with clients to set goals and action plans for improving health and well-being.
- • Recognize and report suspected child or elder abuse or neglect per legal requirements.
- • Arrange transportation or accompany clients to appointments and referral sites when needed.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
