The Growing Demand For Qualified Health Educators
Health educators play a critical role in promoting health and wellness. Their work is essential in disease prevention, improving health outcomes in specific population groups, promoting health equity across all communities, and advocating for health and well-being policies.
Health educators typically specialize in teaching people about behaviors that promote wellness. They develop strategies to improve the well-being of individuals and communities, particularly in historically underserved communities.
Health educator jobs continue to expand as more healthcare organizations and community leaders understand their positive impact on population health. Those aspiring to these positions often pursue a health education degree through an online BS in Health Science with a health education concentration.
What Health Educators Do
Health educators instruct people about health promotion and disease prevention. They may work with individuals, groups, or entire communities. Their work helps stimulate more informed decisions on issues that impact the health and wellness of individuals, their families, and their communities.
Those earning a health education degree understand the best practices for supporting people in making voluntary behavior changes that lead to better health. This includes training and education in specific areas like preventing or managing diabetes, nutrition, hygiene, smoking cessation, and other health-related areas.
Assessing the needs of individuals or communities, health educators use that information to design effective health education programs. After program implementation, health educators evaluate the program’s effectiveness and apply needed changes.
Health educators work in various settings, including schools, community organizations, healthcare facilities, and government agencies. Tasks that a health educator may perform include:
- Designing and implementing health education programs for specific populations
- Developing educational materials such as brochures, videos, and posters
- Delivering presentations and workshops to groups and individuals
- Collaborating with healthcare providers and community organizations to promote healthy behaviors
- Conducting assessments of community health needs and resources
- Evaluating the effectiveness of health education programs
The Importance of Health Educators
Health education is key to a successful healthcare system. For example, health educators use the data collected through needs assessments to advise other healthcare professionals, especially in public and community health, about the health status of specific communities.
Ideally, Health educators inform the public concerning care, prevention, and health betterment and create and implement programs that sustain it. Their work impacts many different areas of healthcare.
Disease prevention
Health educators are involved in designing and implementing health education programs promoting disease prevention, such as programs focusing on healthy eating, physical activity, and getting vaccinations. These programs can prove incredibly effective with schools. They inform people about the importance of preventive health practices and how to make them a part of their daily lives.
Improved Health Outcomes
Health educators improve health outcomes by promoting healthy behaviors and providing people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health. Their work can reduce the risk of people suffering from preventable health problems. Health educators help people take steps to make preventive health practices a part of their daily lives.
Health Equity
Health educators promote health equity, which refers to the goal of everyone having the opportunity to achieve optimal health. They work to address health disparities by tailoring health education programs to the unique needs of different populations and communities.
Advocacy
Some health educators focus on advocacy for underserved populations, promoting policies and legislation resulting in better health and well-being for all. They work to create supportive environments that make it easier for individuals to make healthy choices, such as advocating for safe and accessible recreational spaces, bike lanes, and healthy food options.
Health Educator Job Growth and Salary
Demand for health educators is expected to grow 12 percent by 2031, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Because public health and health education are proven to help reduce costs in the healthcare system, government organizations and businesses want to expand the field.
Health education has become an in-demand service to provide information concerning screenings, general health and nutrition, how to identify potential health problems, and how to avoid costly treatments and procedures.
In May 2021, health education specialists earned an average salary of $64,930 a year, according to the BLS. Health educators employed by hospitals have the highest earning potential at $76,450. Those working in government can earn $60,670.
Touro University Worldwide’s Health Education Degree Programs
Health educators need a bachelor’s degree to acquire an entry-level position. Touro University Worldwide offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Education that prepares graduates for success in this growing field.
Graduates from the online program are prepared to take the Certified Health Education Specialist exam through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
Some bachelor’s program graduates advance their careers by pursuing an online Master of Science in Health Sciences emphasizing Health Education. Graduates of this program are equipped with the competencies and skills to serve any community or group of people’s health promotion and disease prevention needs.