Community Health Worker

The community health work certificate of achievement program provides students who work in, or plan to work in, the field of Community Health with a fundamental academic and experiential base for success in the field. The Certificate of Achievement in Community Health Work is designed prepare students to work in a variety of health settings that utilize entry level front line health care workers by providing training in the core competencies needed to successfully insert themselves in the vast range of options this line of work provides.

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Our health care system has been undergoing tremendous change in recent years, particularly since the inception of the Affordable Care Act. One of the priorities that have come about is the need to create more formalized relationships between health providers and the community. For a long time, community health workers (CHWs) have been recognized for their abilities to build bridges between medical and community care models. According to a brief by the National Conference of State Legislators, recent efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the public and private health care systems have increased state and federal policymakers’ attention on community health workers. They have stated that CHWs “capacity to facilitate patients’ self-management and access to appropriate clinical services could decrease costly and unnecessary hospitalizations, urgent care and emergency room visits, and improve quality of care”( http://www.ncsl.org/Portals/ 1/Documents/ Health/CHWbrief2015pdf). Integration of the medical and community care models requires several actions. One of which is adequate preparation of community health workers, whose language and cultural knowledge, as well as their unique position as trusted members of their communities, make them ideal candidates for this position. However, often the CHWs lack training in the core competencies required to do their jobs. The objectives of the community health work certificate of achievement program at San Diego City College are to provide individuals with the basic skills to become job-ready for the broad spectrum of positions available for community health workers. The certificate of achievement program will be part of the Institute for Human Development at San Diego City College and equip students with training to work in the different organizations and industries related to health care and community well-being. Upon successful completion of the program students will be able to implement the core competencies related to Community Health Work including training on: health literacy, motivational interviewing, navigation of the health care system, cultural competency, social justice and advocacy, as well as other career readiness related skills such as public speaking, professionalism, computer training, and knowledge of public assistance and benefits.

HUMS 103 Introduction to Community Health Work 3 Yr. 1- Fall HUMS 111 Introduction to Chronic Disease 3 Yr. 1- Spring HUMS 121 Community Health Work Practicum 3 Yr. 1- Spring Total Units 9 Additional courses required for Certificate of Achievement (9 Units) HUMS 118 Diversity and Cultural Competency 3 Yr. 2 -Spring PSYC 130 Introduction to Community Psychology 3 Yr. 2 -Spring HUMS 122 Community Health Work Field Placement 2 Yr. 2 - Fall HUMS 270 Work Experience 1 Yr .2 - Fall