Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program
CORE COMPETENCIES FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
Are you interested in:
- Supporting the health of people in your community?
- Helping children, youth, and families that have been impacted by substance use?
- Helping individuals in your community successfully manage their care and navigate the complex health care system?
- Building your professional public health skills and beginning a career as a Community Health Worker?
- Obtaining your Massachusetts Community Health Worker Certification?
WHAT ARE CHWS & WHAT DO THEY DO?
Community Health Workers (CHWs) play crucial roles in promoting and supporting the health of individuals, families, and communities. They are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and/or have close understanding of the communities they serve. This relationship allows them to be a link between health/social services and the community, to facilitate access to services, and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. CHWs build trusting relationships with their clients and help to conduct assessments, make referrals, offer health education, navigate complicated systems, and advocate for client's needs. For more information about CHWs and what they do, check out the videos at the bottom of this page!
This course will prepare individuals with foundational Community Health Worker skills and knowledge, focused on the 10 core competencies as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
The Core Competencies are defined as:
- Outreach Methods and Strategies
- Individual and Community Assessment
- Effective Communication
- Cultural Responsiveness and Mediation
- Education to Promote Healthy Behavior Change
- Care Coordination and System Navigation
- Use of Public Health Concepts and Approaches
- Advocacy and Community Capacity Building
- Documentation
- Professional Skills and Conduct
The curriculum also includes content in behavioral health as well as substance use, misuse, and recovery interventions. These special topic areas build awareness and understanding in important work that affects families in our communities.
This course will fulfill the educational requirements of the Massachusetts Community Health Worker Certification process. Completion of Core Competencies for Community Health Workers, in addition to 2000 hours of work experience, will qualify you to apply to be certified by the Massachusetts Board of Certification of Community Health Workers, operating under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Professions Licensure.
For more information on Massachusetts Community Health Worker Certification, please visit: www.mass.gov/info-details/certification-for-community-health-workers
If you are interested or would like more information about the Core Competencies for Community Health Workers course, or about the Massachusetts Community Health Worker certification requirements, or if you would like to be put on the waitlist for future course offerings, please fill out this interest form and someone will get back to you as soon as possible!
CONTACT
Melanie Young
Program Coordinator
myoung1@hcc.edu
GRANT INFORMATION
This program is supported by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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CHWs make a difference
Community health workers make a real difference in the lives of their clients.
$1.6 million to train CHWs
HCC and area health centers received a $1.6 million HRSA award to train community health workers.
Welcome to FOH
Welcome to Foundations of Health at Holyoke Community College! Here's everything you need to know.
Career or Transfer?
Career or transfer - where do you want to go?
What's FOH Really Like?
Hear about the FOH program from recent grad Marielys.
CHW Careers
What kind of careers can you look for as a CHW?
-
CHWs make a difference
Community health workers make a real difference in the lives of their clients.
-
$1.6 million to train CHWs
HCC and area health centers received a $1.6 million HRSA award to train community health workers.
-
Community Health
Are you curious about a career as a Community Health Worker?
-
Welcome to FOH
Welcome to Foundations of Health at Holyoke Community College! Here's everything you need to know.
-
Career or Transfer?
Career or transfer - where do you want to go?
-
What's FOH Really Like?
Hear about the FOH program from recent grad Marielys.
-
CHW Careers
What kind of careers can you look for as a CHW?
-
Become a CHW
Are you looking for a job in healthcare helping others?
