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.
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.
