North Dakota Ready to Beef up Credentials For Community Health Workers

(Adobe Stock via Prairie News Service)

(By Mike Moen. Prairie News Service) – Labor analysts predict an 11% increase in jobs for community health workers by 2034 to meet demand and North Dakota is trying to garner interest by rolling out a new certification for the occupation.

Community health workers are often found helping people in underserved areas. They are a bridge between patients and health care systems, performing screenings, coordinating care and offering health education at public events. North Dakota’s Health and Human Services Department is now accepting applications to secure a credential.

Tim Wiedrich, director of health response and licensure for the department, said the importance of the frontline workers should be viewed in the same light as other health professionals.

“The certification process is not a requirement, per se,” Wiedrich noted. “But it is something that an individual who’s doing this work or is interested in doing this work can obtain recognition as having achieved a minimum level of standard.”