HBGCE0144 - Community Health Worker Training Program

Course Description

REGISTER TO ATTEND OUR LIVE VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION ON WED, NOV 1ST, 12-1PM EST.
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ab3cde28-9884-4b72-821e-c245a9abff2d@716e81ef-b522-4473-8e31-10bd02ccf6e5.

CHW Check-In

Are you passionate about health issues and conditions that impact health? Do you want to make a difference in your community? If yes, the Temple University Harrisburg CHW Training Program can be right for you!

What is CHW?

CHW-trained staff are a valuable addition to agencies dedicated to improving individual and community health outcomes. Staff using CHW skills are often already connected to the community they plan to serve and may share important cultural bonds such as ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status or other life experiences with members. CHW skills may be applied to a variety of job roles such as:

• Community Health Worker;
• Client Navigator;
• Promotores de Salud;
• Home-Visitor;
• Educator;
• Advocate;
• Counselor; or
• Social worker.

Why TUH CHW?

Our program is designed to provide the core competencies needed for work in community-based care. While the actual functions of Community Health Workers may vary by size and type of practice, healthcare specialty, or patient needs, all Community Health Workers must possess fundamental competencies to be successful in the role of working with patients towards the overarching goal of increasing appropriate utilization of health care services, particularly among under-served populations.  Successful completion of this program will equip the participant with the knowledge, skills, and techniques to better meet the needs of clients and patients they serve, and prepare them for a variety of jobs in the community health field. 

Temple University is a Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) approved provider of this live virtual 14 week non-credit course offering 27 class sessions.  Completing the full program fulfills the 75 hour education requirement for the Pennsylvania state Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) credential!

Course Outline

The goal of Temple University’s training model is to prepare individuals with the basic skills to be effective Community Health Workers. Real life scenarios and exercises are built into each component to reinforce skills. This training program includes:

• 81 hours of in-classroom, didactic Community Health Worker Training based on the core competencies and modular topics

• Approximately 18 hours of reading, self-assessments, practice reflections, and/or assignments

• Weekly case study review and skills practice sessions

• Mental Health First Aid certification

• Supplemental special health-related topic seminars

• Final Exam

• Portfolio development

Learner Outcomes

The training builds a foundation and focuses on competencies for the Community Health Worker, which includes:

1. Advocacy and Capacity Building Skills–CHWs are expected to speak up on behalf of their clients and the communities they serve. CHWs also teach and support patients and communities to develop their own abilities to promote their own health.
2. Care Coordination Skills–CHWs function within healthcare and social service systems, and work with clients to develop goals and access services to improve their health.
3. Community Health Concepts and Health Literacy–CHWs educate clients about how to prevent and manage health conditions and to develop healthier habits.
4. Cultural Competency Skills–CHWs work with different populations with diverse values, customs, language, sexual orientations, etc., and must be able to demonstrate cultural humility, acceptance and understanding.
5. Communication and Interpersonal Skills–CHWs must be good listeners in order to learn about their patient’s experiences, behaviors, strengths and needs, and to provide appropriate health information and client-centered counseling. CHWs also work with diverse groups of people and must be able to develop positive relationships with patients, community members, supervisors, social workers and the other members of the healthcare team.
6. Data and Documentation Skills–CHWs must be able to keep track of the clients and follow proper procedures to accurately document data for their employers.
7. Ethical Responsibilities and Professionalism–CHWs must be aware of their scope of practice and understand their role and responsibilities.
8. Safety and Self-Care–CHWs must maintain their safety and good psychological and physical health to perform their work professionally, without doing harm to clients, colleagues and self.

Notes

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE THROUGH CSIU
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit is offering scholarships for CHW Training. Reach out to CSIU for scholarship information and application processing by completing their Interest Form  or call  570-246-5902.

ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants are required to:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have earned at least a high school diploma or GED
• Be proficient in reading, writing and verbal communications
• Possess basic computer literacy skills, including email and Microsoft Word. 
• Application submission deadline: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
• Early Enrollment Closes Friday, December 22nd, 2023. 

Cancellations and Refunds

All cancellation requests must be made in writing via email to Diamond Poyer, M.Ed., CMC at diamond.poyer@temple.edu and received by the Temple University Harrisburg staff before becoming effective. Please note that if registrant does not officially withdraw from a course and does not attend the course, the registrant is still responsible for payment.  

Cancellations received ten (10) business days or more prior to the start of the scheduled course will be eligible for a full refund of fees paid.

Cancellations received nine (9) business days to one (1) business day prior to the start of the scheduled course will be subject to a cancellation charge of $10.00 for one day/session courses and $50.00 for multiday courses. Cancellations received less than one (1) business day prior to the start of the scheduled course will not be eligible for a refund.  

Request to Postpone Attendance

All requests to be transferred into a future offering must be submitted in writing via email to Diamond Poyer, M.Ed., CMC at diamond.poyer@temple.edu and received by the Temple University Harrisburg staff before becoming effective. Please note that if registrant does not request a transfer into a future offering and does not attend as originally scheduled, the registrant is still responsible for payment. 

Transfer requests received ten (10) business days or more prior to the start of the scheduled course will be eligible for a one-time transfer at no cost. Additional transfer requests or requests less than 10 days prior to the start of the course will be subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.