Community Healthcare Worker
Certificate of Achievement
Community Health Care Worker Certificate
The Community Health Care Worker Certificate of Achievement consists of multi-disciplinary coursework to prepare individuals to work within the social service, public health, or health care workforce as Community Health Workers. This certificate program is designed to provide training in front-line public health care with an understanding of and connection to the communities served. It also provides training in facilitating patient access to health and social services to improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. Students will develop the skills to provide culturally appropriate health education and information, assist people in receiving the care they need, give informal counseling and guidance on health behaviors, and advocate for individuals and community health needs.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2024
Certificate Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AH 106 | Communication for Allied Health Careers | 2 |
| AH 301 | Health Care in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| CHW 101 | Introduction to Community Health Work | 1.5 |
| CHW 103 | U.S. Healthcare Systems and Third Party Payers | 2 |
| CHW 105 | Community Health Resources | 2 |
| CHW 121 | Social Determinants of Health | 2 |
| CHW 123 | Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions | 2 |
| SOC 375 | Introduction to Community Building and Change Making (3) | 3 |
| or CSP 302 | Introduction to Community Building and Change Making (3) | |
| SOC 382 | Introduction to Casework in Social Services (3) | 3 |
| or CSP 301 | Introduction to Casework in Social Services (3) | |
| SOC 385 | Practicum in Sociology, Community Studies, and Community Health Work (2 -4) | 2 - 4 |
| or CSP 305 | Practicum in Sociology, Community Studies, and Community Health Work (2 -4) | |
| Total Units: | 22.5 - 24.5 |
Enrollment Process
Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:
- Complete the online application.
- In the event there are more applicants than spaces available, students who meet the enrollment eligibility requirements will be entered into a random selection pool.
- Through the random selection process, applicants are assigned a number. The first thirty applicants are offered enrollment into the program. The remaining applicants are alternates and will be notified in numerical order if and when seats become available.
- Students must reapply each year. Students who have submitted complete and qualified applications in prior sequential years will receive entries in the random selection equal to the number of years they have applied.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- clarify roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice of Community Health Workers.
- investigate complex service delivery systems within the U.S. healthcare system and key legal responsibilities within the context of health service delivery systems.
- use accepted terminology to describe findings, patterns, habits, and behaviors that prevent the development and progression of common physical, mental and behavioral conditions and recommend strategies that reduce high-utilization of unnecessary healthcare services.
- demonstrate the ability to accurately report and document client assessments, interventions, changes in status, and outcomes in the written and electronic medical record (EMR).
- utilize a variety of outreach methods with individuals, groups, organizations and the community to engage with and help them learn about and use resources to improve their health and well-being.
- identify conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.
- evaluate and inventory available community resources, including health and social services.
- demonstrate knowledge and proficiency with technology, including web-based applications, productivity software suite or package and electronic health record systems.
- communicate effectively and purposefully with clients, community members, colleagues and other professionals as demonstrated by listening carefully and communicating respectfully.
- demonstrate the ability to advocate and build capacity for individual and community health.
- incorporate professional and ethical boundaries, conflict resolution, self-care, time management, and skills for providing and receiving constructive feedback to assist in working within a professional setting.
- collect and synthesize information in order to understand the needs, strengths, and resources of the individuals and communities that Community Health Workers serve.
- utilize information collected to help plan and carry out effective programs, services and advocacy for individuals and communities.
- provide culturally competent care by applying knowledge of cultural beliefs, values, customs and social behavior shared by different groups of people with a common identity.
- educate and promote healthy behavior change by providing people with information, tools and encouragement.
- understand how to bridge cultural, linguistic, knowledge and literacy differences among individuals, families, communities and providers in order to tell them how to use the services of health providers and other service organizations.
- assess, analyze, and apply sociological and community development theory, research methods and practice.
Career Information
Common job titles for Community Health Care Workers include: patient/health navigator, case manager/case worker, health educator, community health educator, community outreach worker, and enrollment specialist. Community Health Care Workers (CHWs) serve as liaisons/intermediaries between health and social services and the community to promote, maintain and improve individual and community access to health care services; assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors; and improve the quality and cultural competence of services delivered. Common tasks/responsibilities include: facilitating access to health services (scheduling appointments, completing provider forms, scheduling transportation); conducting outreach to community members; and providing community and health education.