Community Health Workers

Community health workers often live in the communities that they serve. These communities can be poor and isolated from access to quality healthcare and even city services (such as regular garbage collection or a regular schedule of road repairs). Some underserved areas have high levels of crime, which can create dangerous working conditions for public health workers and a poor quality of life for residents. Other CHWs travel long distances to do their jobs, and some may stay in a community for several days to provide services before heading home. Traveling long distance and being away from family for days at a time can be challenging.

Community health professionals may work a standard 9-to-5 week, while others work at night and on weekends (whenever their services are needed and clients are available for appointments).