HOME HEALTH AIDE
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
Home Health Aide
Position Summary
A Certified CHW is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. [1]
A Home Health Aide assists the disabled, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired by assisting with daily tasks (such as dressing and bathing), simple housekeeping (such as laundry and dishes), shopping, planning appointments, and providing companionship. Provide routine individualized healthcare such as changing bandages and dressing wounds, and applying topical medications to the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities at the patient’s home or in a care facility. Monitor or report changes in health status. May also provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming of patients. [4]
Position Summary
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
A Certified CHW is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. [1]
Home Health Aide
A Home Health Aide assists the disabled, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired by assisting with daily tasks (such as dressing and bathing), simple housekeeping (such as laundry and dishes), shopping, planning appointments, and providing companionship. Provide routine individualized healthcare such as changing bandages and dressing wounds, and applying topical medications to the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities at the patient’s home or in a care facility. Monitor or report changes in health status. May also provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming of patients. [4]
Training and Prerequisites
- Completion of an approved training program for CHW Certification in South Dakota (200 hours of training and 40 hours of shadowing).
- Obtain Certification as a Community Health Work or Community Health Representative in South Dakota. [2]
- Home Health Aides and personal care aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. [5]
- Federal law requires that certified Home Health Aides complete 75 hours of total training (including 16 hours of clinical training), plus pass a test. [5],[6]
- SD does not require any additional training above the national training standards of 75 training hours. [7]
Training and Prerequisites
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
- Completion of an approved training program for CHW Certification in South Dakota (200 hours of training and 40 hours of shadowing).
- Obtain Certification as a Community Health Work or Community Health Representative in South Dakota. [2]
Home Health Aide
- Home Health Aides and personal care aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. [5]
- Federal law requires that certified Home Health Aides complete 75 hours of total training (including 16 hours of clinical training), plus pass a test. [5],[6]
- SD does not require any additional training above the national training standards of 75 training hours. [7]
Certificate/Licensure
- CHWs and CHRs are certified through the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD) on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health and South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services. [2]
- Home Health Aides are not licensed or regulated in SD.
- Aides who work for agencies that receive reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid must get a minimum level of training and pass a competency evaluation to be certified. [5]
Certificate/Licensure
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
- CHWs and CHRs are certified through the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD) on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Health and South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services. [2]
Home Health Aide
- Home Health Aides are not licensed or regulated in SD.
- Aides who work for agencies that receive reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid must get a minimum level of training and pass a competency evaluation to be certified. [5]
Typical Supervisors
- CHWs are primarily supervised by a clinic manager, nursing manager, or other organizational manager.
- Supervisors may include a home health agency manager or case manager.
Typical Supervisors
Certified Community Health Worker (CHW)
- CHWs are primarily supervised by a clinic manager, nursing manager, or other organizational manager.
Home Health Aide
- Supervisors may include a home health agency manager or case manager.
Median Hourly Wage (National)
[3],[4]
Community Health Worker (CHW) – $24.54