Community Health Worker Certificate

Program Overview:

The Community Health Worker (CHW) program will prepare you to obtain employment in a variety of organizations. Community Health Workers perform a broad range of health-related functions and play an important role in bridging the gap between cultures and health care systems. A CHW will work with health care organizations to increase cultural competence, improve access to health care for racial and ethnic minorities, improve the quality of care for the chronically ill, promote healthy communities, and educate families about access to and use of health care coverage.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Community Health Worker program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Assess the health status and health needs of the community.
• Promote wellness by providing culturally appropriate health information to clients and providers.
• Assist in navigating the health and/or human services system.
• Advocate for individual and community needs as they related to health.
• Build individual and community capacity.
• Interpret legal and ethical boundaries as they pertain to the role of the Community Health Worker.
• Provide direct services as they relate to the role of the CHW.

Career Opportunities:

The demand for community health workers is likely to increase as the population grows and ages. More trained workers will be needed in a variety of health care and community-based settings, providing first line support in bridging the gap between distinct communities and health and social care systems. They work to increase access to health care and social service organizations, improve access to health care for diverse populations, improve quality of care for chronically ill, promote healthy communities and educate families about access to and use of health care coverage. As demand increases, community health workers may be employed by entities such as health care facilities, dental offices, non-profits, county health and human service agencies, schools, community mental health centers, senior centers, faith-based programs as well as occupational health and safety departments in business and unions.

Additional Information:

This certificate is only available through RCTC’s Center for Business and Workforce Education.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (16 CREDITS)

• CHW 1000 – Community Health Worker: Role, Advocacy, Outreach and Resources (3 cr)
• CHW 1100 – Health Communication, Teaching and Capacity Building (3 cr)
• CHW 1200 – Documentation, Legal and Ethical Issues in Community Health Work (3 cr)
• CHW 1300 – Health Promotion Competencies (5 cr)
• CHW 1400 – CHW Internship (2 cr)

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions