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To
be a successful Outreach Worker you should:
- Be connected to the community, with a desire to help
the community.
- Be friendly, outgoing, and sociable.
- Be patient and compassionate.
- Be respectful and non-judgmental.
- Be motivated and capable of self-directed work.
- Be committed and dedicated.
- Be dependable, persistent, and resourceful.
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
Certification programs generally last one year, and consist
of an overview of the health system and current health
debates, and internships that allow a performance-based
approach to learning. Outreach workers must be able to
adequately interview and orient clients, manage cases,
document and report cases, and provide health information
and community health education. |
| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Currently there are no licensing or certification requirements,
though many states offer certification courses that provide
fundamental knowledge of the health care system. |
| Where
can I get more information? Eastern Area
Health Education Center (AHEC), Inc.
35 Lafayette Street
Norwich, CT 06360
(860) 886-1424
easternctahec.org
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| What
is the salary for this career? $27,359-$29,348
(Source: United Services, Inc.) |
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| What
will my job be like? Outreach workers are
also known as community health advocates or community
health representatives, and are a fundamental link between
their community and the public health care system. They
provide informal counseling and support, as well as advocate
for and assure the individual needs of their community,
while building their community's capacity. Community outreach
workers promote healthy living through teaching disease
prevention and by connecting their community to formal
health and human service systems. |
| Where
could I work? Community outreach workers work
within hospitals, community health centers, social service
organizations, and public health departments. They spend
most of their time in the community rather than in an
office. |
| What
is the future of this career? The increasing
demand for health care, due to a longer life span and
growing immigrant and underserved communities, requires
the existence of outreach workers to link these populations
to an ever-growing and complex health care system. Outreach
workers will be in greater demand in the future because
they effectively prevent and reduce cultural and linguistic
barriers to care, as well as improve the quality and cost
effectiveness of care. |
Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Programs are being developed in Connecticut Community
Colleges
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven
- Three Rivers Community College, Norwich
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