CCHR’s work very closely with nurses and others in healthcare teams to help improve and maintain the spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and emotional well-being of individuals, families and their communities. Under the direction of health care professionals, they may provide services in all or some of the following areas:
- health promotion and education
- client care
- health protection
- community advocacy
- cultural liaison
- administration
For example, community health representatives:
- Assist with organizing health education workshops
- Design or help create culturally appropriate education resources
- Conduct home visits to build relationships with community members and provide information and support
- Assist with providing health promotion and injury prevention services such as prenatal classes, elders’ luncheons or health conferences
- Assist in infant and adult immunization programs
- Monitor clients who have chronic diseases
- Conduct home visits, and coordinate the good food box program
- Deliver prescriptive medicines to elders with no other help available
- Assist with health screening programs such as scheduling regular mammogram appointments for women, pre-school screening, and tb screening
- Implement school-based programs such as head checks and project Charlie
- Refer clients and families to appropriate resources and services, and help them overcome any access barriers
- Recommend improvements regarding the delivery of health care
- Act as a liaison and collaborate with community leaders, agencies and service providers
- Assist with coordinating or facilitating community health initiatives such as healthy babies programs
- Monitor the safety of the community’s water supply
- Provide information about personal hygiene, safe food handling, safe water quality and waste disposal
- Assist in the investigation of communicable disease outbreaks and provide information, screening, and follow-up
- Assist in housing inspections, emergency preparedness and disaster planning, and helping to plan and provide necessary support at special or planned events (for example, special assemblies, feasts, conferences, etc.)
- Translate or describe routine medical processes and procedures for clients or interpret cultural practices or beliefs for health care professionals
- Assist in developing partnerships with community-based agencies or external health care providers
For more information or to request assistance in any of the above areas, click here to contact the CCHR in your community.