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Community support worker vs community health counselor

The differences between community support workers and community health counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a community support worker, becoming a community health counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a community health counselor has an average salary of $43,304, which is higher than the $31,486 average annual salary of a community support worker.

The top three skills for a community support worker include crisis intervention, community resources and social work. The most important skills for a community health counselor are social work, behavioral health, and patients.

Community support worker vs community health counselor overview

Community Support WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Yearly salary$31,486$43,304
Hourly rate$15.14$20.82
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs106,158131,804
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4341
Years of experience124

What does a community support worker do?

A community support worker works with different social groups to provide physical, emotional, and emotional support to clients. Community support workers primarily aim to care for and support people with mental and/or physical restrictions or disabilities. They provide personal care assistance to clients and their families or caregivers. Part of their job is to maximize and promote independence in the home and community setting. They encourage residents in care institutions to take part in activities.

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 support worker vs community health counselor salary

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

Community Support WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Average salary$31,486$43,304
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $40,000Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityOxnard, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyChemung ArcApple
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between community support worker and community health counselor education

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

Community Support WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Community support worker vs community health counselor demographics

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

Community Support WorkerCommunity Health Counselor
Average age4341
Gender ratioMale, 28.0% Female, 72.0%Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.7% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%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 Percentage11%15%

Differences between community support worker and community health counselor duties and responsibilities

Community support worker example responsibilities.

  • Key staff person, charge with rehabilitation and environmental support essential to assist a consumer in achieving rehabilitation and recovery goals.
  • Promote recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency through goals and skill development in independent living, psycho-educational learning, socializing and recreation.
  • Key staff person, charge with rehabilitation and environmental support essential to assist a consumer in achieving rehabilitation and recovery goals.
  • Document progress and communicate to MHMR case manager.

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.
  • Show more

Community support worker vs community health counselor skills

Common community support worker skills
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Community Resources, 9%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Mental Health, 7%
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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