Certificate of Achievement, Community Health Worker

The Community Health Worker Certificate is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in public health as community health workers. A Community Health Worker assists individuals and communities in adopting healthy behaviors. They conduct outreach for medical personnel or health organizations. Students will be introduced to community health worker competencies and demonstrate entry-level mastery of these competencies by completing the work experience requirement.  

Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate the professional and job readiness skills of a Community Health Worker professional to meet the needs of local, diverse communities.

2. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for entry-level placement as a Community Health Worker. 

The Department anticipates that five to ten students will complete the program each year.

The Community Health Worker Certificate of Achievement program introduces students to principles and practical skills to pursue a career as a community health worker (CHW). CHWs are frontline, public health professionals who act as liaisons or advocates and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. CHWs aim to improve health, community development, and access to systems of care. Students will be prepared for entry-level positions in settings such as public health, clinics, hospitals, primary care agencies, human services, and other health-related settings. The CHW program courses are designed to align with the professional and job readiness skills of the core competencies identified by the professional standards of a CHW and the needs of local and diverse communities. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills by working with clients as part of their work experience requirement.    

We are creating a new Community Health Worker Certificate of Achievement.

Requirements	Course	Course Title	Units
Complete the following courses:
	HLED 3	Contemporary Health Issues	3
	HLED 21	Introduction to Public Health	3
	HLED 200	Introduction to Community Health Worker	3
	HLED 30	U.S. Health Care Systems	3
	KINPP 23	First Aid and Safety	3
	HLED 271	Public Health Work Experience	1
		Subtotal	16

This program will reside in the Kinesiology / Public Health / Athletics Department.

There are similar programs in the southern California area, and all are in highly demand as evidenced by full enrollments.

10-15

NA