Community health is a specialized niche of healthcare that addresses health improvement, disease prevention, and health awareness. This emerging field of healthcare offers non-clinical-based services to those within a designated community with the goal of reducing health disparities by “addressing social, behavioral, environmental, economic, and medical determinants of health.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified community health as one of the fastest-growing career fields in healthcare. Between 2022 and 2032, positions in expected to grow at a rate of 14% – a much faster than average rate for comparable fields. Among the many reasons for growth in the field include focus on healthcare services for those in need, expansion of programs and initiatives in health equity, and greater investment in marginalized and at-risk communities.
Since community health often merges social services with healthcare, many positions are focused within these two primary categories. The Work Environment report produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that over 20% work in social assistance, the largest share, while just 10% worked in hospitals. Within community health there are also multiple fields to enter, including:
Health Education / Promotion
Health education and promotion is an important aspect of public health. Through health education and promotion, individuals and communities are provided with information, skills, and resources designed to advance their health and well-being. Health education and promotion focuses on a variety of topics, including the promotion and support for healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices, disease prevention and mitigation measures, and targeted campaigns surrounding general health practices. Furthermore, initiatives focus on addressing health disparities and improving healthcare access through strategic partnerships and community involvement. Whether it’s through the use of digital, print, or in-person media, health education is central to ensuring the public not only has access to but is aware of current health initiatives and practices critical to safe and effective community health.
Health Advocacy & Support
Health advocacy and support works directly with patients or communities to advance access to and understanding of healthcare. Among the most prominent of these positions is patient advocacy, which focuses on providing support services to marginalized and disadvantaged patients and their families. Patient advocates and similar advocacy or support roles focus on helping patients with various aspects of the healthcare journey, including appointment scheduling, explaining treatment options, insurance navigation support coverages, and making sure patients receive the best care available to them. While many patient advocacy and support roles work with the marginalized and vulnerable, health advocates can be great assets to anyone who needs support navigating healthcare.
Community Outreach
Community outreach offers a proactive approach to community health by pairing the educational and informational aspects of health education with the advocacy and support services offered through health advocacy. Community outreach focuses on working directly within a community to disseminate information about healthcare opportunities, practices, and methods. Examples include assisting with scheduling doctors’ appointments, providing information on nutrition, vaccinations, and healthcare visit schedules, aiding those in applying for insurance, and in some cases partnering with clinics or physicians to provide health advice, basic care, and support to those who are most vulnerable. Community outreach and also include forging strategic partnerships or collaborations between the government and healthcare providers to establish care and work toward advancing health equity.
Advancing Your Career In Community Health
There is no singular path to entering the community health field. Positions are available for those graduating high school, to those with a college degree. Due to the variety of offerings available and the dichotomy of skill levels required, the field provides great career advancement opportunities. Degree opportunities such as healthcare administration can provide a nuanced overview of the healthcare system, it’s inner workings, and provide opportunities for students to get involved in community health.
Those who are already working in healthcare with a bachelor’s degree can pursue graduate-level education or post-baccalaureate certificate opportunities. Through the University of Providence’s Community Health Investment Certificate, healthcare, and social service professionals can gain a comprehensive understanding of current dynamics alongside the skills and knowledge to implement effective interventions and foster multi-dimensional collaborations between healthcare providers and community-based organizations.
