What Is A Community Health Worker?
A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health professional who serves as a bridge between communities and healthcare services, providing education, outreach, and advocacy to improve community well-being and access to quality care.
VHWDA Community Health Worker Training Program
VHWDA is proud to offer a community health worker training program which includes:
- 12-week course with 17 asynchronous, online, interactive modules (80 hours of didactic lessons)
- This course fulfills the didactic requirements outlined by the Virginia Certification Board for Virginia CHW Certification.
- Access to our Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) for potential supervision, experiential learning
- Convenient technical assistance from a VHWDA team member
The 12-week course is available through Moodle, a global learning management system built for distance learning. Students will navigate through each didactic module, which consists of relevant readings, videos, discussion board assignments, case studies, and assessments to help them prepare for careers as community health workers, health advocacy or other similarly skilled careers. Students can also utilize the training as an introduction to healthcare.
CHW Curriculum Modules
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Module 1 – Course Introduction and Orientation |
Module 10 – Understanding Trauma |
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Module 2 – Intro to CHW |
Module 11 – COVID-19 |
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Module 3 – Health Equity and SDOH |
Module 12 – Outreach and Advocacy |
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Module 4 – Health Literacy |
Module 13 – Care Coordination and Systems Navigation |
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Module 5 – Public Health Concepts |
Module 14 – Documentation and Reporting |
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Module 6 – Wellness and Healthy Lifestyles |
Module 15 – Legal, Ethical and Professional Conduct |
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Module 7 – Teaching to Promote Health Behavior Change |
Module 16 – Stress Management and Self-Care |
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Module 8 – Chronic Disease Management |
Module 17 – Professional Skills |
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Module 9 – Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder |
Who Should Take This Course?
The CHW training course is designed for:
- Aspiring community health workers, including those wishing to complete CHW certification through the Virginia Certification Board.
- Students of all levels who want to gain practical knowledge and experience in healthcare.
- Current clinicians, nurses, clinical social workers, and other health professionals who want to enhance their skills in community-based care and outreach.
- Community advocates and those involved in community-based advocacy looking to understand current healthcare challenges better.
- Anyone passionate about promoting health and wellness in their communities and aiming to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of others.
Cost
The cost for the CHW training course is $750.
Discounts apply for group enrollment and scholarships are available. The cost includes 12 weeks of unlimited access to all didactic course material, 1-on-1 technical assistance, and CHW certification preparation.
For more information please contact
Group Enrollment
*For groups of 5 or more, please use this link to enroll your participants
!-*Please review our sales policy prior to payment.-->Need more information before enrolling?
Sign up for a 1-hour virtual info session with the CHW Program Manager, Henry Lewis: