Post job

Community health advocate vs outreach specialist

The differences between community health advocates and outreach specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a community health advocate, becoming an outreach specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an outreach specialist has an average salary of $41,863, which is higher than the $34,784 average annual salary of a community health advocate.

The top three skills for a community health advocate include patients, community health and community resources. The most important skills for an outreach specialist are customer service, patients, and social work.

Community health advocate vs outreach specialist overview

Community Health AdvocateOutreach Specialist
Yearly salary$34,784$41,863
Hourly rate$16.72$20.13
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs67,96446,523
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4343
Years of experience412

What does a community health advocate do?

A community health advocate (CHA) makes sure that community members are adequately and fairly treated in health care matters. Community health advocates ensure that patients receive proper hospital care and service. They strive to win public health programs and initiatives which is beneficial to the community. It is part of their job to collaborate with health insurance companies or medical professionals to solve any issue related to patient treatment. As a CHA, you may assist community members in moving on after an illness or accident.

What does an outreach specialist do?

An outreach specialist is primarily responsible for organizing and managing social service programs that promote health and wellness within a community. They typically conduct research and assessments to determine the community's needs, thoroughly plan events and programs, participate in hiring staff and volunteers, and liaise with sponsors and suppliers. Often reporting to a manager or supervisor, an outreach specialist must also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports, preparing necessary documentation, managing schedules, arranging appointments, and even responding to inquiries and concerns.

Community health advocate vs outreach specialist salary

Community health advocates and outreach specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Health AdvocateOutreach Specialist
Average salary$34,784$41,863
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $29,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-CME Group
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between community health advocate and outreach specialist education

There are a few differences between a community health advocate and an outreach specialist in terms of educational background:

Community Health AdvocateOutreach Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Community health advocate vs outreach specialist demographics

Here are the differences between community health advocates' and outreach specialists' demographics:

Community Health AdvocateOutreach Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 14.5% Female, 85.5%Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%
LGBT Percentage21%11%

Differences between community health advocate and outreach specialist duties and responsibilities

Community health advocate example responsibilities.

  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
  • Report on CHP program activities as required by funding sources.
  • Provide support to counterpart NGOs in activities to build health portfolios.
  • Monitor and submit all incident reports for the CHP via establish protocols.
  • Encourage the community to practice early detection of colon, breast, and cervical cancer.
  • Compile best practices and resources to help volunteers work to change gender dynamics in Malawi.
  • Show more

Outreach specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage low volume Medicare caseload when need.
  • Manage incoming/outgoing referrals and some ICD-9 medical coding.
  • Preform contact investigations on active TB clients.
  • Conduct thorough, detail screenings of contacts through TB Mantoux test.
  • Enter new clients into MedFORCE (EMR) and maintain electronic records.
  • Complete all documentation in state EMR's to prepare client file for discharge.
  • Show more

Community health advocate vs outreach specialist skills

Common community health advocate skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Community Health, 17%
  • Community Resources, 10%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • Primary Care, 6%
  • Community Organizations, 5%
Common outreach specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Social Work, 6%
  • Veterans, 4%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 4%
  • Community Resources, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs