Community Health Worker Program

What is a Community Health Worker?

According to the Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut, a Community Health Worker (CHW) is a front line public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of, and ability to communicate with the community served.  This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison-link-intermediary among the community, health and social services to facilitate access to resources and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.  A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

Core Competencies Training aligns with the core competencies defined by Connecticut State Innovation Model  (SIM).
#1: Outreach Skills
#2: Individual and Community Assessment Skills
#3: Communication Skills
#4: Interpersonal and Relationship Building Skills
#5: Education and Facilitation Skills
#6: Service Coordination and Navigation Skills
#7: Capacity Building Skills
#8: Advocacy Skills
#9: Evaluation and Research Skills
#10: Professional Skills and Conduct

Course Description

This course will include The Core Competencies for Community Health Workers Training ; 90-hour curriculum and a 60-hour practicum that consist of presentations, short readings, videos, role play and group discussion and other activities.  Practicum discussion will take place during class and students will build a community resources binder and resume by the last day of the training.

The Core competencies also include a knowledge base of health-related topics. Health topic modules are interspersed throughout the curriculum and include the following:

• Physical activity and nutrition
• Diabetes & complications
• Use of Diabetes Cost Tool
• Hypertension
• Smoking & your health
• Mental/behavioral health & connection to physical health
• Social determinants of health, related disparities and the principles of health equity
• COVID-19 & Telehealth

Certification Requirements

Before applying for licensure, please refer to the link below and familiarize yourself with the general licensing policies.

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Community-Health-Worker/Certification-Requirements 

Prerequisites

• Must be at least 16 years of age

Course Schedule

Spring  2021- CRN#14455

Instructor:  Community Health Worker Instructor

Dates: 2/8/21-5/17/21 no class on 2/15/21

Days: Monday and Wednesday

Time: 3:00pm-7:00pm + 2hrs per week group/community project

Cost: $2,350.00 textbook included

Location: LRON (Students will meet online via Blackboard Collaborate Monday and Wednesday from 3-7 p.m.

CEUs: 15

Registration deadline: 2/2/21

Learn how to register.