Community Health Worker

What you will learn

• You will be trained to work as a liaison between providers and clients and clients and agencies.
• You will develop critical thinking as a framework for solving problems and making decisions.
• You will gain an understanding of how ethics influences client care.

Points of pride

• This curriculum was developed specifically for Minnesota’s unique populations and local health/human services organizations, preparing you for a more successful career experience.
• With an 80-hour internship requirement, you’ll become familiar with many local health and social services agencies and grow comfortable working with people of all ages, needs and backgrounds.
• This program’s 80 hours of internship may be applied to the internship requirement for an associate degree in the Human Services program.

Where you could work

• Community health centers
• Nonprofit clinics and agencies
• State and local government agencies

Potential job titles

• Social and human services assistant/specialist
• Community health advocate
• Eldercare advocate

Occupational outlook

The demand for community health workers is likely to increase as the population grows and ages. More trained workers will be needed at residential care facilities to help the elderly make appointments, coordinate referrals and follow medication instructions. Workers will also be needed at community-based and independent-living sites to assist the homeless, the mentally and physically disabled and those in substance abuse programs.