A Guide To Community Health Worker Career - Job Description, Skills, Education, Salary

A Guide To Community Health Worker Career - Job Description, Skills, Education, SalaryA Guide To Community Health Worker Career - Job Description, Skills, Education, SalaryCommunity Health Worker Job DescriptionA community health worker is a lay person who serves an important function of connecting the communitys underserved people with education, and medical screening, treatment.Create this ResumeCommunity Health Worker Skills/DutiesA community health worker is a lay practitioner who provides basic, low cost / free medical care to those who do not have usual admittance to conventional physicians, medicines and medical facilities.The chief duties of community health workers includes handling minor diseases and ailments, taking care of pregnant women and looking after children. They also help with family planning, endorsement and encouragement of cleanliness and hygiene, investigating for infectious diseases, carries out health education programs, collects health related data, maintai n records and provide healthcare referrals.The commonest duty of a community health worker is providing care for womens and childrens health and nutrition. He will also teach people about self care, hygiene and habits that have an impact on health, such as information about food, diet and nutrition, stopping smoking and medicine compliance.Community health workers (CHW) are in dienstgrad of the health of the people of the community, who may not be looked after by the medical institutions. These people comprise of the uninsured, migrant workers and immigrants. The CHW serves people of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.Community health workers assist in locating resources within the community, when required. They conduct screenings of high risk populations for signs of present or imminent diseases this includes diabetes testing, cholesterol screening, sexually transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS testing, etc. They provide referrals, provide transport for the appointments and help patients acquire medicines and medical devices.Trained community health workers may even act as first responders in an emergency / disaster situation. Isolated areas may not have fire departments or ambulances, thus, a CHW could practice emergency care before the patient gets to the hospital. A CHW may conduct CPR, stopping bleeding or using a defibrillator. This may prevent further damage / even death.Community Health Worker Education and Training The education requirements vary, depending on the employer. Some need a high school diploma, while, others look for a bachelors degree. Occasionally, community health workers need to undertake post hire coaching of about 9 to 100 hours. Typically, CHW are given up to 100 hours of supplementary coaching on the job, through class room training, job mentoring or a combination of both. The training and education includes the following modulesBeing a Community Health WorkerEnvironmental Health CareSituational AnalysisPrimary Health Care Concep tThe District Health SystemAcute and Chronic Diseases and their management at homeT.B. and DOTSBody systemsHIV and AIDS counseling and supportMaternal and Child HealthHealth Education and PromotionIntegrated management of childhood illnessesARVTPrevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT)Infectious DiseasesCommunity Development A few states have synchronized education for community health workers by having a consistent and regular curriculum. Some states have college based education and coursework, whilst others have community based hands on training experience. A CHW is not licensed, but continuing training and education may be set by the employer. Also, various states have started developing credentialing programs for CHWs. Importantly, employers more often than not, look for those who can speak the language of the community they will serve.Community Health Worker Job OutlookAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prospects for community health workers are excel lent.Community Health Worker SalaryThe average annual salary of a community health worker is about 35,000 $60,000.Customize ResumeMore Sample Career ArticlesCommunity Health Worker Career Dietetic Technician Career Disaster Medical Specialist Career

Technical Committee Seeks Nominations for Two Awards

Technical Committee Seeks Nominations for Two Awards Technical Committee Seeks Nominations for Two Awards Technical Committee Seeks Nominations for Two AwardsThe Technical Committee on Multibody Systems and Nonlinear Dynamics (TC-MSND) of the ASME Design Engineering Division is currently seeking nominations for the dAlembert Award and the Lyapunov Award. The two awards will be presented at the 11th ASME International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics and Control, which will be held as part of the ASME 2015 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences in Boston from Aug. 3 to 5, 2015. Established in 2005, the dAlembert Award recognizes lifelong contributions to the field of multibody system dynamics. Previous recipients include Profs. Thomas R. Kane, Werner Schiehlen, Edward Haug, Javier Garca de Jaln de la Fuente, and Ahmed Shabana. The Lyapunov Award, which was launched in 2005, recognizes lifelong contributions to the field of nonlinear dynamic s. Previous recipients include Profs. Ali H. Nayfeh, Francis C. Moon, Philip Holmes, Earl H. Dowell, and J. Michael T. Thompson. Nominations should include a nomination letter signed or co-signed by a TC-MSND member describing the field of the nominee and his or her impact a curriculum vitae and up to five letters of support. The deadline to submit a nomination for both awards is Jan. 1, 2015. Nomination materials for the awards should be submitted to TC-MSND Awards Committee Chair, Dan Negrut, the Vilas Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, via PDF attachment and e-mailed to negrutwisc.edu. For mora information about the Technical Committee on Multibody Systems and Nonlinear Dynamics, including the current roster of members, visit the Multibody Systems and Nonlinear Dynamics Group Page on ASME.org.

5 ways to maintain your mental health while working in a high-stress job

5 ways to maintain yur mental health while working in a high-stress job5 ways to maintain yur mental health while working in a high-stress jobWeve all been there. Its 8 p.m. You receive a Slack message from your manager reminding you that your deadline is at midnight, or that a key client is unhappy, or that youll have to come into the office this weekend to finish a reportdespite whatever plans you might have already made.When these things happen, those of us on the other side of the computer screen suffer. We suffer because we become overwhelmed, anxious, and, above all,stressed. And stress ultimately damages our mental health and our overall quality of life.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreNow, while a majority of Americans reportfeeling stress at work, there are some companies who proactively try and help their employees protect their mental health.For example, early in my ca reer, I worked at Federal Express, a place where leadership offered employees mental health days to ensure we were all taking care of ourselves. They did this because they understood the nature of our work to be inherently stressfulwhether it welches meeting a deadline or dealing with irate customers, everyone at the company was from time to time overworked. Because of that, they wanted to help us combat negative feelings.This was, of course, great, but the truth is, not all companies are so empathetic or caring. And understanding as we do that stress isphysiologically damaging, its incumbent upon us to take steps to protect and nurture our own mental health.We shouldnt feel ashamed of investing in as much, either. Rather, its smart to actively invest in yourmental health. Its a matter of being fully present in both your professionalandyour personal life, and of taking action to be the best version of yourself possible.Here are a few strategies Ive learned to be helpful to this end over the course of my career.1) Always take your breaks and lunchesAmericans, especially, glamorize over-working. We think that to work relentlesslyand to forgo your breaks during the dayis evidence of your passion, commitment, and investment. As such, many of us do things like eat lunch at our desks or stay in our windowless office for 9 hours straight.This is, in a word, shortsighted.Simply put, people are more effective when they take regular breaksand that includes eating lunch away from your laptop. AtWorld Changers, I encourage my employees to take 15-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon, in addition to going on walks and clearing their head as needed. This, I believe, allows our minds to reset and declutter so that when we come back to our work, our responsibilities feel more manageable.2) Exercise regularlyOur physical health directly impacts our mental health.If we neglect our bodiesif we dont go outside during the day, or exercise often, or go for walkswe put ourselv es in a deeper hole.Its not always easy, but you need to prioritize doing things like going to the gym or otherwise being active for some parts of the day. Whether your company assists you with this or not, think of it as another means of investing in your mental acuity.3) Actually take mental health days if you need themThe mental health days I took from time to time at Federal Express were essential. They gave me set blocks of time with which I could reset. They helped me maintain, too, a sort of balanced perspective in which I saw my work as merely a facet of my lifenot myentirelife.Like taking 30 minutes to exercise or eating lunch away from your laptop, allowing yourself to take mental health days amounts to investing in your improved ability to focus and be productive while youre at work. Humans are not machines. Just as we cant operate at 100% capacity without breaks all day, we cant operate at optimal efficiency allyearwithout ever taking a meaningful amount of timebe it a d ay or a weekaway from the office.4) Unplug from work when you get homeSimilarly, to truly protect your mental health, you must set aside timein addition to lunches and daily breaksthats solely for you and your family. If you find yourselfalwayschecking your email at home, oralwaysmonitoring Slack, youre never giving yourself essential time to appreciate your loved ones or the things that make you happywhich is something all humans need.As someone whos run several organizations, this is a point Ive learned a lot about over the years. Its tempting to forfeit your entire life to the people youre in charge of and the initiatives you want badly to succeed. But giving yourself so holistically to your work breeds resentment and, in time, erodes happiness. Ive benefited immensely from ensuring that my time at home, when Im not at the office, is spent solely with my family, members of my church, or reading a great book.We can only be effective as professionals if we remain cognizant of who w e areand what we love doingas people. Being a person comes first.5) Delegate your responsibilities at workFinally, remember not to push yourself past your breaking point.This was another big lesson for me. Early in my career, I thought that to give up the chance totake on morewas akin to forfeiting my chance at a future promotion or raise. But the truth is, if you accept more responsibility than you can reasonably handle, youll end up doing more damage than good.So, when you reach your breaking point, dont try and barrel past it. Define what your boundaries are, speak up when youve reached them, and delegate some of your responsibilities to your people.If this sounds hard, youre not alone. I know many ambitious, inspired people suffer from the same false belief I sometimes suffer from, which is this idea that we have to doeverythingourselves. Its a belief compounded by the anxiety that if were not pushing ourselves past our limits of capacity, were not doing enough to get ahead or s ucceed.But your ambition cannot supersede the importance of maintaining your mental health. Because its true at a certain point, overworking really does become unproductive.At the end of the day, in order to be fruchtwein effective, you have to be happy, healthy, and mentally balanced.In some ways, then, protecting your mental health is your first and most important responsibility as an enterprising professional. Its an ongoing project you cant afford to neglecteven when you get that late night Slack message.This article first appeared on Minutes.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Hey Grads! No Experience No Problem! (Sort of) Rerun

Hey Grads! No Experience No Problem! (Sort of) Rerun Hey Grads! No Experience? No Problem! (Sort of) Rerun Hey Grads! No Experience No Problem! (Sort of) Rerun [This post originally aired on March 26, 2008. The message still holds true today, so here it is again in case you missed it the first time around.] I graduated from college two years ago (four now!) with the notion that having a college degree would serve in place of experience and pretty much guarantee a decent starting salary in a first job. And finding that first job was going to be a piece of cake with a degree to boast. Knowing what I know now, I couldn't have been more foolish. What I Learned about Experience, from Experience You have it, but it's not the right kind. The Experience section of my pre-graduation resume looked a little something like this: Pizza Place, 3 years; Some Pharmacy, 2 years; This Gym, 5 months. In my mind, this kind of work record showed a prospective employer that I'm a good, loyal worker. But if the jobs and skills are irrelevant to the field of work you're looking to enter, your resume will appear weak and incomplete. And that's where point #2 comes in ... Your free time in college counts for more than you think. College meant the freedom to schedule my own day. To be done with classes by noon or to not even start until 4 p.m. Oh, and the parties? Yeah, those were really something. But what about student activities and clubs? Or the internships advertised around campus? Not only did my contributions to the campus newspaper and my summer internship at a publishing house give me valuable experience for the workforce, they also gave me a stronger resume that secured interview after interview. Financially, your degree will only take you so far. Nowadays, practically any office position requires a bachelor's degree. Back when having a college degree was less common, you could use it as a negotiating tool for more money. No degree? You'd start at $20,000 a year. Bachelor's degree? OK, how about $35,000? But this system doesn't apply in today's workforce. Having a degree to put on your resume might get you in the door, but only experience will influence the kind of money you want to makeunless you're in an industry where each degree level means higher pay, such as teaching or engineering. Figuring out what you really want to do will only get easier. Landing that first job is something worth celebrating. After the countless hours of searching and interviewing, you've made the leap from student to professional and your career can only go up from there. In my first year, I learned how to adjust to regular office hours, figured out what my superiors expected from me, and most importantly, I learned that that particular company was not quite right for me. In your first job, you'll figure out what makes you happy about your career choice, and what doesn't. And that's how you'll know it's time to build on your experience and start looking for a new job. If you're just making the transition from student to professional (or will be soon), don't let the 2-4 years of experience required stop you from applying for positions that interest you. Your coursework and contributions to clubs or internships count toward that number; just be sure to describe them with skill and professionalism on your resume, highlighting the most important, job-relevant contributions. And as always, keep in mind that if your goal is a better, higher-paying position, you have to gain experience somewhere.

Let#8217;s Talk About Men in Tech

Let#8217;s Talk About Men in Tech Let#8217;s Talk About Men in Tech Despite repeated convincing studies that have proven organizations are most successful when they are committed to fostering diversity, a disturbing trend of discrimination and sexism in the workplace  remains rampant. Such  cultures, built from the top down, do not serve their employees or their investors well. In any industry, the only way to remain on top is to be agile, diverse, and inclusive. In an  era of toxic tech cultures, Im proud to be part of an organization with a founding team that emphasizes diversity of thought. Drew Batshaw, cofounder and head of engineer at Waggl, was a main factor in why I chose to join the company. In the startup world, its not what you do, but  whom you do it with that matters. When looking to join a startup and choose a winning professional path, the founding team should be the most important factor in your decision regarding where to work. Recently at Waggl, we have been involved in a bit of a debate regarding our company messaging software. Many employees wanted to move over to Slack, but there wasnt an urgent need to move to the new software, so Drew  didnt see this as a priority. A few hours after a meeting in which he expressed his preference to remain with our existing software, he sent a company-wide email that included the following excerpt: Our culture is one where we actively debate ideas, and when there is friction, we work through it. It is not a culture where just because one person doesnt like an idea, they say, I dont want to talk about it. I want to own up to  having that attitude about Slack. I was not modeling the way I believe we ought to work at Waggl. I think it is pretty clear that the majority of the organization would like us to move to Slack, so lets do it! This act of transparency moved me to sit down with Drew to explore  his role as a leader at the company. My first question for him when we met was about why he thought toxic cultures evolve in some organizations. I think the answer is that if you dont do anything specific, it naturally emerges from the traditional hierarchical organization, he said. As organizations grow, its less likely youll have direct contact with people within the organization. Unless you deliberately set it up, the human element of an organization doesnt naturally happen. I then asked specifically about the minor conflict around  Slack and what guided him to emphasize diversity of thought and to respond the way he did. To the first part, which speaks to how to work as a team, I think it is giving everyone a voice while still leading the conversation, Drew said. Sometimes, we just all agree. When there is conflict, what I find works really well is to step back and align on what it really is that we are after. Currently, Waggl is preparing to scale, and as we do, we are looking at adding a significant headcount in the coming months. Drew sees this as both a challenge and an opportunity. Our challenge in scaling is that those day-to-day interactions arent going to be able to happen, he said. I will have less contact with everyone, so how do we continue to bring those values into the day-to-day process? I asked Drew about his advice for anyone on the founding team of a startup. He didnt think long before  answering: If you arent already clear about what the most important values in your company are, get clear â€" and make sure that one of them is listening to your employees and making them feel important. This is a value Drew lives. I see him take time to connect with people in the office and remotely. He truly values his people. Lets be clear: It takes courage to value everyones  opinions, even when they differ from your own. In a time of toxic tech bros, I think Drew is one man who  gets it right. A version of this article originally appeared on the Waggl blog. Kate Benediktsson, is head of marketing and experience at Waggl.

Antagonist Definition for Fiction Writers

Antagonist Definition for Fiction Writers Antagonist Definition for Fiction Writers An antagonist in a work of fiction is a character who opposes a protagonist, the main character who often is the storys hero. An antagonist, when there is one, provides the storys conflict by creating an obstacle for a storys protagonist. To understand the role of an antagonist in fiction, think of the classic structure of an old western. The storys hero, wearing a white hat, is the protagonist. He is seeking to do good for the townspeople or villagers in some way. Standing between him and achieving that good, though, is the storys villain, wearing a black hat. He is the antagonist, and the protagonist must defeat him in order to complete whatever good deed is his task at hand. This obviously is a simplistic look at the roles of protagonists and antagonists, and good literature never is so simple. Stories are richer when readers can empathize with protagonists and antagonists alike and even when readers can raise questions about whether a character is really an antagonist at all. Role Reversal Count Dracula is one of the most iconic villains in English literature, and he certainly fits the classic definition of an antagonist. Jonathan Harker intends to marry Mina Murray, but the mysterious vampire Dracula travels to London and uses his charm to seduce Mina. To rescue Mina, Harker and his friends - Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Quincey Morris - must hunt down and kill Dracula. That seems pretty straightforward, except in Bram Stokers classic novel, Dracula, the antagonist drives the story and sets events in motion. Draculas purchase of property in London prompts Harkers visit to Transylvania, and Draculas desire to move to London and establish himself there drives the rest of the story. His targeting of Minas friend Lucy Westenra motivates the others to respond and thwart Draculas efforts. In this example, an argument can be made that the antagonist and his objectives are driving the story, and the protagonist and his friends are putting obstacles in place to try and thwart the antagonists efforts. Whether that interpretation of roles holds water is less important than the way Stoker gives his antagonist enough depth of character to allow readers to ask the question and explore its possibilities. More Than One In Margaret Atwoods dystopian The Handmaids Tale, protagonist Offred is confronted by multiple antagonists who make up the nation of Gilead. As a handmaid, Offred serves the commander and his wife, Serena Joy, and Offreds job is to help them produce offspring. The commander and his wife certainly are antagonists, as is Aunt Lydia, who helps run a re-education center where Offred was sent to be indoctrinated in preparation for her role as a handmaid. Even Nick, a guardian of Gilead who Offred befriends, and Ofglen, a fellow handmaid, can be viewed as antagonists in the sense that Offred never can be sure whether she can trust them. In fact, there are almost no characters she encounters whom she can trust completely because she never knows what secret motives they might have. This secrecy and distrust, one could argue, is the real antagonist in the story, and the characters who stand between Offred and her freedom are simply representatives of that secrecy and mistrust. Playing Both Sides Like Dracula nearly a century before him, Thomas Harris Hannibal Lecter has become an iconic villain, but is he a true antagonist? Introduced in the novels Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs, Lecter plays a similar role in both stories. He assists the protagonists in stopping the stories real antagonists. In the case of Red Dragon, Lecters insight helps FBI agent Will Graham track down a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy. In The Silence of the Lambs, he helps FBI trainee Clarice Starling track down another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. For as evil, manipulative, and self-serving as Lecter is, arguably neither Graham nor Starling would have succeeded without his help. In that sense, his counsel is an important tool for the stories protagonists. However, Lecter has his own motives, and he secretly communicates with the Tooth Fairy behind Grahams back. In the case of Buffalo Bill, he knows more about the killer than he is willing to share, using his knowledge as a bargaining tool in his dealings with Starling and to set events in motion that create an opening for his escape.

Social Security and Medicare Benefit Changes for 2017

Social Security and Medicare Benefit Changes for 2017 Social Security and Medicare Benefit Changes for 2017 If you are nearing retirement age or already receiving Social Security benefits, it’s important to stay on top of any changes that may be occurring. Currently, there are some 60 million recipients, a number that grows by 10,000 daily (until 2030).  Medicare spending by the government hit record highs as of 2016. The good news is that Social Security benefits are projected to be available until the year 2034 when it will drop to 79% of promised benefits for those aged 45-47 now. The bad news is that Medicare premiums are going up, while the cost of living adjustment (COLA) will only be around 0.2% for 2017. There was no COLA in 2016 because inflation rates did not increase. Some retirees have already begun to receive letters from the Social Security Administration indicating their cost of living increases will be just a few dollars. Medicare Hospital Coverage Still Safe While Medicare Part A hospital coverage will be 100% funded until the year 2028, it comes in at two years fewer than it was projected in 2016, which has many worried that out-of-pocket expenses will be rising in the coming years. Premiums are going up for a portion of Medicare Part B only recipients in 2017, depending on if members are getting a COLA or not. This increase impacts 70% of Medicare recipients, with the other 30% held harmless. Part B Increases Expected for Top Earners in 2017 The most recent information on Medicare premium increases comes from AARP, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.gov, in which top earners can expect the steepest rate hikes. Increases are expected to be around 22 to 25% up from 2016, focused on Part B premiums. The 30% held harmless by COLA guidelines can expect an increase of $2.70 more a month in 2017. The 70% not held harmless by COLA will increase based on earnings (above $85,000) in the range of $27.20 to $149.00 a month in 2017. Those in the highest income brackets will see the biggest premium increases of $380.20 to $467.20 a month. Medicare Part D, coverage for prescription drugs, is expected to increase from $34 to $40 per month, and the deductible will increase from $360 to $400 annually. Lower-income Medicare recipients can expect their states to pick up any additional costs for premiums and out-of-pocket fees. What Medicare Recipients Can Do to Prepare for the 2017 Premium Increases According to The Street, there are some things that Medicare recipients can do now to prepare for the projects premium increases for 2017. Seniors are encouraged to work with a financial planner to determine the best use of their retirement incomes, as well as choose the right Medicare Part B product if they are in the $85,000 income bracket or above. Other ways that seniors can save money on medical and prescription expenses now is to schedule any and all medically-necessary procedures before the end of 2016, to take advantage of lower rates. Many have already reached their annual out of pocket maximum for the year so that medical costs can be covered in full. Going into the 2017 plan year, seniors are encouraged to find alternative ways of meeting their monthly premiums and out of pocket costs. One way to save money is to find a zero to low-interest credit card that offers cash back for all purchases, and points programs to use for other expenses like travel and online shopping. Medicare recipients can also take advantage of free and low-cost health screenings at local health care centers and clinics. Routine, preventative care can help maintain good health, which can cut down on expensive emergency care and surgeries. Medicare Part D recipients should take advantage of home medication delivery with 90-day supplies which cuts down on deductibles and transportation costs. For the most expensive or newer brand name medications, seniors can apply for special programs operated by the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies to get free and reduced cost drugs. Whenever visiting a doctor’s office, ask for drug samples before filling a prescription, an effort that can save you a couple of hundred dollars per year. When it comes to medically necessary surgeries or other costly procedures, consider clinics outside of the USA that can provide safe medical care at a fraction of US rates. There are many top-rated clinics in Asia, Mexico, Europe, and South America.