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Community health internship vs community health counselor

The differences between community health interns and community health counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a community health internship and a community health counselor. Additionally, a community health counselor has an average salary of $43,304, which is higher than the $32,586 average annual salary of a community health internship.

The top three skills for a community health internship include patients, mental health and public health. The most important skills for a community health counselor are social work, behavioral health, and patients.

Community health internship vs community health counselor overview

Community Health InternshipCommunity Health Counselor
Yearly salary$32,586$43,304
Hourly rate$15.67$20.82
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs113,667131,804
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4341
Years of experience44

What does a community health internship do?

A community health intern is responsible for assisting the community staff with the health services and responsibilities for the citizens. Community health interns should help in identifying health opportunities, provide solutions for community health problems, and inform citizens of health issues. They also suggest programs promote a healthy environment, research and create reports on health education, and communicate with health departments for health services. A community health intern must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as time-management and the ability to multi-task to perform duties in a fast-paced environment under minimal supervision.

What does a community health counselor do?

A community health counselor typically provides health and welfare support to the disadvantaged members of a community. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to reach out to community members, coordinating with schools and other institutions, and building positive relationships with the communities that they serve. They may also provide counseling sessions to individuals of all ages, conduct observations and assessments, perform interventions, and identify any signs of abuse or neglect, reporting to the authorities right away. Furthermore, they may refer families or individuals to other social services unit if necessary.

Community health internship vs community health counselor salary

Community health interns and community health counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Health InternshipCommunity Health Counselor
Average salary$32,586$43,304
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $44,000Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyCity of BaltimoreApple
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between community health internship and community health counselor education

There are a few differences between a community health internship and a community health counselor in terms of educational background:

Community Health InternshipCommunity Health Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Community health internship vs community health counselor demographics

Here are the differences between community health interns' and community health counselors' demographics:

Community Health InternshipCommunity Health Counselor
Average age4341
Gender ratioMale, 24.5% Female, 75.5%Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.2% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage21%15%

Differences between community health internship and community health counselor duties and responsibilities

Community health internship example responsibilities.

  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
  • Implement state-mandated curriculum on sexual education, STI prevention, and unplan pregnancy prevention to teens and young adults.
  • Provide culturally sensitive STI prevention counseling and connect individuals with a positive HIV diagnosis to treatment and support services.
  • Perform a variety of clinical tasks including obtaining vitals, patient history, and preparing patients for chiropractic manipulative therapy.
  • Administer individual psychotherapy and intake evaluations to patients seeking behavioral health services in outpatient clinic for homeless men and women.
  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
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Community health counselor example responsibilities.

  • Provide group and individual therapy along with social service coordination for patients in short term stabilization psychiatric unit.
  • Train in medication administration, therapeutic holds and CPR.
  • Maintain cleanliness of home provide assistance with cleaning rooms and common areas.
  • Train in MNT, TCI, first aide and CPR with several other essential trainings.
  • Complete insurance verification information for Medicaid participants.
  • Maintain caseload paperwork in accordance with Georgia Medicaid requirements.
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Community health internship vs community health counselor skills

Common community health internship skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Mental Health, 9%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Intake Assessments, 5%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
Common community health counselor skills
  • Social Work, 19%
  • Behavioral Health, 17%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%

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