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What does a community program assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
9 min read
Quoted expert
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.

Community program assistants provide administrative support by answering phone calls and answering emails and processing paperwork. The assistants establish training documents, perform data entry, and conduct research. They do fundamental administrative tasks like managing and filing schedules. It is part of their job to assist in planning events and giving budget oversight. Among the skills that are necessary for this job include customer service, human resources, data entry, special education, and communication.

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Community program assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real community program assistant resumes:

  • Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation where applicable.
  • Provide implementation and oversight of multiple tracking systems for safety regulation adherence, record maintenance, and internal and external interactions.
  • Create community partnerships in addiction ministry and education resulting in ecumenical collaboration surrounding the issues of addiction and recovery.

Community program assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Community Program Assistants are proficient in Phone Calls, Data Entry, and Public Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Compassion, Organizational skills, and Time-management skills.

We break down the percentage of Community Program Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Phone Calls, 11%

    Answered telephone calls and provided customer service to students, patients, and staff in the CDIS program.

  • Data Entry, 10%

    Assisted program director with office tasks, including data entry and filing client records.

  • Public Health, 9%

    Provide advanced administrative and support services for the nine county Public Health Preparedness Consortium.

  • Social Services, 8%

    Regenerated and restructured database input forms for better workflow of facilitators in evolving social services program.

  • Community Outreach, 6%

    Provided childcare for teachers' children during community outreach program.

  • Assistance Program, 5%

    Administered interviewing, screening and processing of potential applicants for the Weatherization and Energy Assistance programs.

Most community program assistants use their skills in "phone calls," "data entry," and "public health" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential community program assistant responsibilities here:

Compassion. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a community program assistant to have is compassion. Their role and responsibilities require that "social and human service assistants often work with people who are in stressful and difficult situations." Community program assistants often use compassion in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "conferred frequently with physicians, patients and families and provided compassionate support and guidance throughout treatment and recovery. "

Organizational skills. Many community program assistant duties rely on organizational skills. "social and human service assistants must often complete lots of paperwork and work with many different clients," so a community program assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways community program assistant responsibilities rely on organizational skills: "source, recruit and recommend employees in line with organizational need and hr policies. "

Time-management skills. community program assistants are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to community program assistant responsibilities, because "social and human service assistants often work with many clients." A community program assistant resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "assisted 10 social workers with developing, organizing and conducting programs in meeting deadlines. "

Interpersonal skills. community program assistant responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "social and human service assistants must make their clients feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues." This resume example shows what community program assistants do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "utilized excellent interpersonal communication, negotiation and mediation skills while interacting with y.o.u. "

Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in community program assistant job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what community program assistants do. Community program assistant responsibilities rely on this skill because "social and human service assistants talk with clients about the challenges in their lives and assist them in getting help." You can also see how community program assistant duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "planned and implemented community outreach activities and programs maintained the federal communications commission file selected, planned, and scheduled television programs"

Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on community program assistant job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in community program assistant duties, since "social and human service assistants help clients find solutions to their problems." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day community program assistant responsibilities: "solicit guidance to transform ideas into government program, community organization, voluntaryactivities, and manpower development into workable solutions. "

Most common community program assistant skills

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Community Program Assistant Resume
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Community Program Assistant Resume
Community Program Assistant Resume
Community Program Assistant Resume
Community Program Assistant Resume
Community Program Assistant Resume
Community Program Assistant Resume
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Community Program Assistant Resume

Compare different community program assistants

Community program assistant vs. Program officer

A program officer is an essential part of a foundation or charitable organization. It is up to program officers to supervise program progress and proposals, seek grants, manage projects, and oversee budgets. They generally guarantee that an organization's activities and programs are met with the vision and mission statements of that foundation. It is the program officer's responsibility to complete various tasks in completing the demands of this position. Moreover, their job includes developing their staff, implementation, and daily management of activities.

We looked at the average community program assistant salary and compared it with the wages of a program officer. Generally speaking, program officers are paid $44,460 higher than community program assistants per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between community program assistants and program officers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like public health, technical assistance, and social justice.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a community program assistant are more likely to require skills like "phone calls," "data entry," "social services," and "community outreach." On the other hand, a job as a program officer requires skills like "project management," "program management," "excellent interpersonal," and "private sector." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Program officers tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,517. In contrast, community program assistants make the biggest average salary, $36,575, in the education industry.On average, program officers reach higher levels of education than community program assistants. Program officers are 17.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Community program assistant vs. Assistant program coordinator

An assistant program coordinator performs administrative support tasks and assists in organizing programs and activities under a program coordinator's supervision. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring the expenditures and schedules, preparing and processing documents, handling calls and correspondence, creating requests and proposals, communicating with vendors and suppliers, and updating records. They must also assist staff in various tasks and resolve issues promptly and efficiently. When it comes to employment opportunities, an assistant program coordinator may work at learning institutions, government agencies, and private companies.

Assistant program coordinator positions earn higher pay than community program assistant roles. They earn a $6,351 higher salary than community program assistants per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Community program assistants and assistant program coordinators both require similar skills like "community outreach," "community services," and "travel arrangements" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, community program assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "phone calls," "data entry," "public health," and "social services." Meanwhile, an assistant program coordinator has duties that require skills in areas such as "cpr," "mental health," "crisis intervention," and "community agencies." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, assistant program coordinators earn a higher salary than community program assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, assistant program coordinators earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $41,967. Whereas community program assistants have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $36,575.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Assistant program coordinators tend to reach higher levels of education than community program assistants. In fact, they're 5.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for community program assistants in the next 3-5 years?

Lesley Casarez Ph.D.Lesley Casarez Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction, Angelo State University

Graduates will need to learn to use technology in which virtual platforms are taking place and web conferencing platforms. Numerous platforms are being used, so the particular platform itself is not as crucial as being well-versed in how virtual education differs from face-to-face environments. Typically, the instructional role in online learning is more of a facilitator, as the educator guides the students to think critically, integrate, and apply new knowledge. This may be difficult for educators who would rather stand in front of a classroom and pass on their knowledge through lecture-based formats. Additionally, being well-versed in various web conferencing platforms will benefit graduates, as they move into a career that is currently requiring communication in virtual environments.

Community program assistant vs. Service assistant

A Service Assistant's responsibility depends on the line of work or industry involved. However, the primary responsibility of a Service Assistant is to respond to a customer's inquiry and offer them assistance, a suggestion, or a solution. Aside from ensuring customer satisfaction, a Service Assistant may also process payments, discuss product information, and sell products or services in adherence to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, A Service Assistant needs to keep records of transactions at all times and report to management or supervisors.

On average scale, service assistants bring in lower salaries than community program assistants. In fact, they earn a $3,165 lower salary per year.community program assistants and service assistants both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "data entry," "travel arrangements," and "developmental disabilities," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a community program assistant is likely to be skilled in "phone calls," "public health," "social services," and "community outreach," while a typical service assistant is skilled in "excellent interpersonal," "basic math," "customer satisfaction," and "math."

Service assistants make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $35,732. On the other hand, community program assistants are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $36,575.When it comes to education, service assistants tend to earn similar degree levels compared to community program assistants. In fact, they're 4.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Community program assistant vs. Program facilitator

Program facilitators have good skills in communication, empathy, active listening, conversation, conflict management, and consensus-building. They also have a keen understanding of group dynamics, management, and how to create an inclusive environment. Their daily tasks will be to assist in the organization and implementation of recreation or work programs, and organizing employee training corporate programs.

Program facilitators tend to earn a higher pay than community program assistants by an average of $4,931 per year.While their salaries may vary, community program assistants and program facilitators both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "community outreach," "community services," and "developmental disabilities. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "phone calls," "data entry," "public health," and "social services" are skills that commonly show up on community program assistant resumes. On the other hand, program facilitators use skills like program curriculum, substance abuse, cpr, and group discussions on their resumes.program facilitators enjoy the best pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $37,723. For comparison, community program assistants earn the highest salary in the education industry.In general, program facilitators hold higher degree levels compared to community program assistants. Program facilitators are 5.1% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of community program assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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