Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Community Health Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Community Health Coordinator is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating community-based health programs that improve population health outcomes and address social determinants of health. This role combines outreach, client-facing case coordination, data-informed program monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and health education to increase access to services, reduce health disparities, and support community resilience. The Coordinator builds partnerships with clinical providers, social service agencies, schools, and local leaders to deliver culturally competent prevention and care navigation services.

Keywords: Community Health Coordinator, community outreach, health education, case management, program development, public health, health promotion, social determinants of health, care coordination, health equity.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Community Health Worker / Outreach Worker
Health Educator or Peer Navigator
Social Work or Public Health Intern

Advancement To:

Community Health Program Manager
Public Health Program Director
Care Coordination Manager
Clinical or Population Health Manager

Lateral Moves:

Health Education Specialist
Care Navigator / Case Manager
Outreach & Engagement Specialist
Patient Services Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, coordinate, and implement evidence-informed community health programs and outreach initiatives that target priority populations, reduce barriers to care, and promote preventive services such as screenings, immunizations, and chronic-disease management.
Conduct comprehensive community needs assessments by collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, synthesizing community input, and translating findings into prioritized program objectives and operational plans.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with healthcare providers, social service agencies, schools, faith-based organizations, and local government to create referral networks and integrated care pathways that streamline access to services.
Provide direct client-facing case management and care navigation, including intake assessments, goal-setting, individualized care plans, referrals to medical and social services, follow-up, and documentation of outcomes in electronic health records (EHRs) or care management databases.
Design and deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate health education workshops, presentations, and materials on topics such as chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, behavioral health, nutrition, and substance-use prevention.
Lead targeted outreach campaigns and community engagement events (health fairs, vaccination clinics, school-based programs) to increase service uptake, using community-based participatory approaches to build trust and sustain engagement.
Screen clients for social determinants of health (housing instability, food insecurity, transportation needs, utility assistance) and coordinate linkages to community resources and benefit programs to address non-medical drivers of health.
Monitor program performance through ongoing data collection, key performance indicators (KPIs), and outcome measures; prepare regular reports and dashboards for funders, leadership, and partners to demonstrate impact and inform continuous improvement.
Write and contribute to grant proposals, funding applications, and program budgets; manage restricted program funds and ensure compliance with grant reporting and contractual obligations.
Train, supervise, and support volunteer promotoras, peer navigators, and community health workers to ensure high-quality outreach, accurate documentation, and adherence to program protocols and safety procedures.
Facilitate multidisciplinary case conferences and care coordination meetings to align services, remove client barriers, and ensure continuity of care across primary care, specialty services, behavioral health, and social support systems.
Implement quality improvement activities, including plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, client feedback systems, and process mapping to streamline workflows and increase program efficiency and client satisfaction.
Maintain confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies while documenting encounters, consent forms, service plans, and outcomes in secure record systems.
Conduct targeted home visits and field outreach when appropriate, using safety protocols and trauma-informed approaches to assess living conditions, provide in-home education, and facilitate linkage to services.
Create and adapt client-facing educational materials, toolkits, and digital content (social media, newsletters) optimized for low-literacy audiences and translated materials to reach diverse populations.
Coordinate vaccination drives, screening programs, and emergency response outreach (e.g., pandemic response, natural disaster support) by mobilizing community resources and ensuring equitable distribution of services.
Track and analyze referral completion rates and client outcomes to identify gaps in the service continuum and develop strategies to increase successful referrals and retention in care.
Serve as a community liaison and advocate, representing the program at community advisory boards, stakeholder meetings, and coalitions to amplify community needs and influence local health planning.
Ensure program documentation, policies, and standard operating procedures are current and that staff receive training on data entry standards, confidentiality, and program protocols.
Support epidemiologic surveillance and public health campaigns by collecting community-level data, conducting outreach to under-served subpopulations, and disseminating public health messaging to reduce stigma and misinformation.
Coordinate transportation solutions, appointment reminders, and other logistical supports that remove practical barriers to care, improving adherence to treatment and attendance at preventive visits.
Use motivational interviewing and behavior-change techniques during individual client interactions to increase readiness for change and support sustained health behavior improvements.

Secondary Functions

Assist with ad-hoc program evaluation requests, data pulls for funders, and exploratory analysis to support strategic planning and grant renewals.
Contribute to organizational policies and the community health strategy, recommending priorities based on community needs and performance data.
Participate in interdisciplinary planning sessions, coalition-building activities, and community advisory panel meetings to align services and share best practices.
Prepare monthly and quarterly reports for leadership, funders, and partners that summarize outreach activities, service utilization, client outcomes, and lessons learned.
Support digital outreach initiatives including maintenance of program social media accounts, event promotion, and collection of digital engagement metrics.
Provide cross-coverage for related programs as needed, including basic administrative tasks, scheduling, and resource inventory management.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Case management and care coordination: intake assessment, individualized care planning, referral tracking, and documentation in EHRs or care management systems (e.g., Epic, eClinicalWorks, HCHB).
Community needs assessment and program planning: survey design, focus group facilitation, data interpretation, and translating findings into actionable program objectives.
Data collection and basic analysis: experience with Excel, Google Sheets, and data visualization tools to track KPIs and produce program monitoring reports.
Grant writing and funder reporting: preparing narratives, budgets, logic models, and meeting deliverables and compliance requirements for federal, state, and private grants.
Health education curriculum development and delivery: creating culturally competent materials, lesson plans, and evaluation tools for diverse audiences.
Screening for social determinants of health and linking clients to community resources, benefits, and public assistance programs.
Basic clinical knowledge relevant to community health (chronic disease management, maternal-child health, infectious disease prevention) to provide accurate referrals and education.
Proficiency with digital outreach platforms and CRM systems for event management, appointment reminders, and client communication (e.g., Salesforce, Mailchimp, Google Workspace).
Familiarity with HIPAA, confidentiality standards, and documentation best practices in community-based health settings.
Bilingual language skills highly desirable (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic) to effectively engage non-English-speaking populations.

Soft Skills

Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills with the ability to build trust and rapport in diverse communities.
Strong organizational skills with the capacity to manage multiple projects, track deliverables, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Empathy and client-centered approach, practicing trauma-informed care and nonjudgmental support for vulnerable individuals.
Problem-solving and critical thinking to navigate complex social and health systems and advocate for clients with multiple needs.
Community engagement and stakeholder facilitation skills for coalition building, consensus development, and sustained partnerships.
Adaptability and resilience when responding to changing community needs, emergencies, or programmatic pivots.
Leadership and mentorship skills to train, supervise, and motivate community health workers and volunteers.
Attention to detail in documentation, reporting, and data quality assurance.
Motivational interviewing and behavior change facilitation to support client readiness and adherence to health plans.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for mediating between clients, providers, and partner organizations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree in Public Health, Nursing, Human Services, Social Work, Health Education, or a related field; or equivalent experience working in community outreach or case management.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) or Master’s degree (MPH, MSW, MHA) in Public Health, Social Work, Nursing, Health Education, Community Development, or related disciplines.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Public Health
Nursing
Social Work
Health Education
Community Development
Human Services

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of experience in community health, outreach, case management, health education, or related roles.

Preferred:

3–5+ years of progressively responsible experience designing and managing community health programs, demonstrated success with outreach and partnerships, experience with grant-funded programs, and prior supervisory or lead experience with community health workers or volunteers.