Community health workers promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. They serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Community health workers act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. Their other duties may include delivering health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings as well as the collection of data to help identify community health needs.
Community Health workers work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and community health care facilities.
Community health workers are sometimes required to have a four year bachelor’s degree. However, most community health workers receive on-the-job training and/or vocational training.
In the District, employment for community health workers has an estimated projected growth of 20% from 2020 to 2030. There will be about 110 projected annual openings for community health workers between 2020 and 2030 in D.C.
The DC Health Care Workforce Partnership is managed by the District of Columbia Hospital Association Program Services Company, Inc.
The DC Health Care Workforce Partnership is funded wholly or in part by the Government of the District of Columbia Workforce Investment Council (WIC).