Health Navigator

Health Navigator is a health care professional who works as part of a team or health care system to reduce barriers to accessing health care and promoting prevention services. This includes linking patients with a primary health care provider, providing information and resources, helping providers communicate with patients, and providing health education and promoting health behaviors. The Health Navigator Certificate is a two semester, up to 24 credit certificate of achievement, which includes a work based internship. Coursework is specific to the public health promotional field. Below are the student learning outcomes. Upon completion of the Health Navigator Certificate, students will be able to: 1. Practice within the code of ethics for health educators (health navigator, community health worker, outreach worker, patient navigator). 2. Use communication strategies that are responsive to the social determinants of health for an individual and/or community. Social determinants include conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. 3. Implement health education plans to promote healthy behaviors, address health risks and reduce harm. 4. Work with clients to facilitate access to resources and increase the clients’ ability to navigate the health care system There are no prerequisite skills needed prior to enrollment. Embedded in the course work of the certificate of achievement is a directed practicum. This internship will provide a capstone experience and placement in a public health worksite. The public health field is competitive and requires that participants have a track record of success and can demonstrate knowledge and skills. Positions include but are not limited to health navigator, community health outreach worker, nonprofit work to working in a school health environment.

The proposed start date for the Health Navigator is Fall 2018. Only ‘Semester One” courses will be offered. “Semester Two” courses will be added in addition to “Semester One” courses in Fall 2019. “Semester Three” and “Semester Four” courses will be added as the program progresses. Students may enter the program in the Fall semester. It is projected that initially 20-30 students will enroll in and complete the Certificate of Achievement annually.

The Health Navigator Certificate of Achievement competencies closely align with the health education profession. All course work will include public health sciences classes (PBHS 20, 21, 22, and 23) which are grounded in the principles of public health and can be used to continue course work at the California State University and University California levels. The certificate of achievement is created to be a stackable component with the Associate Science Transfer Degree or as direct pathway into the public health field. In addition, the curriculum will include an experimental practice-based learning class with direct practice. The curriculum is designed to be flexible enough to support students in various stages of their career and academic paths. The Health Navigator Certificate is a two semester, up to 24 credit certificate of achievement, which includes a work based practicum. Coursework is specific to public health field. Below are the student learning outcomes. Upon completion of the Health Navigator Certificate, students will be able to: 1. Practice within the code of ethics required with the health education field. 2. Use communication strategies that are responsive to the social determinants of health for an individual and/or community. Social determinants include conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. 3. Implement health education plans to promote healthy behaviors, address health risks and reduce harm. 4. Work with clients to facilitate access to resources and increase the clients’ ability to navigate the health care system

PBHS 20 Introduction to Public Health- provides overview of public health concepts PBHS 21 Personal Health and Wellness – Provides health promotion and behavior overview MEDS35 Lifespan Development – Provides an overview of each life stage and stresses developmentally and culturally appropriate practices PBHS 22 Drugs Health and Society- Provides an overview of drug types, misuse and use issues and impact on community. PBHS 23 Social Justice and Health – Examines health and social justice issues in community, access to quality health care PBHS 30 Capstone Project and completion of ACCA Coverage Enrollment Certificate HEIT25 Healthcare Reimbursement Navigating Health Insurance – Provides an overview of health care system and documentation procedures for health insurance COMM B9 Health Communication 3 Units per class Total Core Courses 24