About This Career

Promotes health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serves as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Acts as liaison or advocate and implements programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

This career is part of the Human Services cluster Family and Community Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Maintains updated client records with plans, notes, appropriate forms, or related information.
• Advises clients or community groups on issues related to improving general health, such as diet or exercise.
• Identifies or contacts members of high-risk or otherwise targeted groups, such as members of minority populations, low-income populations, or pregnant women.
• Contacts clients in person, by phone, or in writing to ensure they have completed required or recommended actions.
• Distributes flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to inform members of a targeted community.
• Refers community members to needed health services.
• Attends community meetings or health fairs to understand community issues or build relationships with community members.
• Performs basic diagnostic procedures, such as blood pressure screening, breast cancer screening, or communicable disease screening.
• Advises clients or community groups on issues related to diagnostic screenings, such as breast cancer screening, pap smears, glaucoma tests, or diabetes screenings.
• Advises 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.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Weekend work