Community Health Worker Certificate

Program Description

A community health worker (CHW) operates in the health and social services arenas. A core role of a community health worker is to help individuals and communities navigate complex medical and social service systems. A CHW promotes wellbeing through health education. Students taking the Community Health Worker elective courses learn to combine technical skills, as well as language and cultural proficiencies, to advance preventative health and support people living with chronic illness.

Program Outcomes

1. Understand the role, responsibilities, and limitations of a community health worker.
2. Explain the legal and ethical guidelines around confidentiality, documenting and reporting, agency policies, and cultural considerations that a community health worker works within.
3. Navigate complex medical and social service systems.
4. Analyze resources to help individuals access needed supports.
5. Advocate for individual, community and capacity building needs.
6. Develop skills to communicate with individuals, communities, and providers to promote health and wellbeing.

Elective Structure and Delivery

The Community Health Worker Certificate courses are delivered fully online.  They are taken in sequence as electives within a designated bachelor of science completion program.