CHW CERTIFICATION TRAINING

Ruby Cherfils, Executive Director, Multi-Boards BHPL

CHW CERTIFCATION

Launched Friday, October 25, 2018

What is CHW Certification?

•	Landmark legislation created the certfication board

•	Purpose is to govern the certification and practice of Certified Community Health Workers in MA

•	Establishes 11 member Board

•	Chaired by the Commissioner or her designee and 10 members appointed by governor
•	Includes 4 seats for CHWs recommended by MACHW
•	

Why Does Certifcation Matter?

ØFor the Public:

•	Protect the health and safety of the citizens of the commonwealth
•	Competency based

•	Standardize training of 10 core competencies

ØFor	Providers & Employers:
•	Set practice standards

•	Set training standards

•	Build access to culturally competent support for vulnerable populations to reduce barriers

ØFor CHWs:

•	Builds professional identity

•	Workforce growth and development
•	Voluntary certification

•	Multiple Pathways

•	No minum educational requirements

ØPublic & Private Insurers:

•	Scope of practice, training

•	Workforce data for evaluation, planning and research
•	Aligned with value-based payments for ACO roll out
•	

It Acknowledges The Important Role of CHWs
Distinguished from other

health professionals in that they:

•	Hired primarily for their understanding of the populations and communities they serve

•	Conduct outreach a significant portion of the time

•	Experience serving in community settings
•	

6

HOW DO I BECOME
CERTIFIED?

7

Voluntary Certification

You can practice as a CHW without certification

You cannot call yourself a “certified CHW” if you have not received Board Certification

Becoming a Certified CHW

Step #1: Assess whether you meet the CHW definition Step #2: Calculate your CHW Work Hours
Step #3: Choose Available Pathway

Step #4: Secure 3 References on your CHW Core Competencies

Step #5: Demonstrate Suitability for Certification

Step #6: Complete and submit the application and pay fee ($35) Step #7: Respond to any Board requests

Step #1

•	

CHW is an umbrella term encompassing many different job titles.

•	Your title does not have to be “Community Health Worker”

•	Multiple job titles could qualify for certification
•	
CHW could be:

•	Health Educator

•	Patient Navigator

•	Promatora de Salud

•	Advocate

•	Etc.

•	Read the regulation’s definition of CHW to determine if your roles and responsibilities align
•	

CHW Definition

A CHW is a public health worker who applies his or her unique understanding of the experience, language and culture of the populations he or she serves in order to carry out one or more of the following roles:

•	Providing culturally appropriate health education, information, and outreach in community-based settings, such as homes, schools, clinics, shelters, local businesses, and community centers;

•	Bridging/culturally mediating between individuals, communities and health and human services, including actively building individual and community capacity;

•	Assuring that people access the services they need;

•	Providing direct services, such as informal counseling, social support, care coordination, and health screenings; and

•	Advocating for individual and community needs

•	And other roles that may be identified by the board
•	

Step #2

Calculate Your Work Hours

•	40 Hours/Week * 52 Weeks = Total Full Time

•	20 Hours/Week * 52 Weeks = Total Part-Time
•	

Step #3: Pathways for Certification

2 Pathways

Combined Training
& Work Experience	Work Experience Only

•	

80 hours of training
•	2,000 hours of work experience

Available once Board approves CHW Training Programs
•	
4,000 hours work experience
•	Only an option for first 3 years of certification

Available Now

Step # 4: Demonstrate Your Competencies

Have 3 references that document your compentencies in:

Œ Outreach Methods and Strategies

� Individual and Community Assessment

Ž Effective Communication

� Cultural Responsiveness and Mediation

� Education to Promote Healthy Behavior Change

•	Care Coordination and System Navigation

’ Use of Public Health Concepts and Approaches

“ Advocacy and Community Capacity Building

•	Documentation

• Professional Skills and Conduct

Step #4: References

•	At least 1 must be an individual who is a current or former supervisor working as a community health worker in the United States;

•	At least 2 must be based on work experience in the United States; and

•	References may not be provided by an individual who is a family member of the applicant or current or former client of the applicant in the applicant’s capacity as a community health worker
•	

Step #5: Suitability for Certification
(or Good Moral Character)

•	Board will review:

•	CHW Understanding of the CHW Code of Ethics developed by MACHW

•	CHW Understanding of the CHW Professional Standards of Conduct in the regulations

•	Any disciplinary action with other licenses

•	History of involvement with criminal justice system through CORI
•	

Step #5: CORI Review Process

•	Balance protection of public with ensuring criminal history review is job-related and not overbroad

•	Look only at convictions

•	No blanket bans, case by case decision-making

•	Ensure convictions considered are job-related

•	Define and consider rehabilitation and mitigating factors

•	Be transparent about process and rights
•	

Step #6: Application Process

•	Application and Forms are available on the Board’s website at:

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-certification-of- community-health-workers

•	Follow the prompts: Community Health Worker Certification
•	https://www.mass.gov/community-health-worker- certification

Apply for Certification
üRead the application checklist carefully
üBe sure to submit all required documents
üMake a copy of the application

•	Applicants can receive help filling out the application
•	

Board Website

Your Responsibilities

•	Applicants and Certified CHWs must:

ØNotify the Board in writing of any of the following events within 30 days of their occurrence:

üChange of address

üChange of name

üChange of Social Security Number

Certification Renewal

•	Certification valid for 2 years
•	15 CEUs Per Cycle

•	Postcard reminders sent 90 days prior to expiration to address of record

•	Online renewal encouraged
•	license renewed immediately (real time)
•	renewal can be verified on Board’s website

•	Online renewals cost ($35)
•	

Disciplinary Action

•	Regulations outline a process for investigating complaints against a certified CHW and the rights of CHWs in this process

•	Violations of the Professional and Ethical Standards of Conduct for Certified CHWs will be investigated

•	Can result in loss of certification, suspension, reprimand or other actions

•	Read and understand the Professional and Ethical Standards of Conduct!
•	

Resources

Board’s Web Page:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-certification-of-community- health-workers

CHW Certification Fact Sheet
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/10/19/chw-certification- fact-sheet.pdf

FAQs:
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/10/03/CHW%20FAQ.PDF

Office of Community Health Workers:
https://www.mass.gov/community-health-workers

Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers: http://www.machw.org/

Board Contact

Board Web Page:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-certification-of-community-health-workers

FAQs:
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/10/03/CHW%20FAQ.PDF

CHW Certification Fact Sheet
https://www.mass.gov/community-health-workers

Address:
239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114

E-mail:
Multiboard.admin@state.ma.us

Phone: 617-973-0806	Fax: 617-973-0983

25

EXAMPLES

CHW Example #1: Maria

•	Worked for 5 years as a CHW with a community health center

•	Has 8,000 work hours

•	Did not take a core competency training

Apply for Certification through the Experience Only Pathway

CHW Example #2: Natalie

•	Worked for 1 year as a patient navigator with a hospital

•	Has 2,000 work hours

•	Took a training program by a non-profit organization in August 2018

•	Board approved training program in August 2018

Apply for Certification through the Training and Experience Pathway

Can only apply once the training program is approved by the Board

CHW Example #3: Sean

•	Worked for 1 years as a health educator with a community-based organization

•	Has 2,000 work hours

•	Took a training program by a Community College in January 2018

•	Board approved training program in August 2018 retroactive to June 2017

Apply for Certification through the Training and Experience Pathway

Can only apply once the training program is approved by the Board

CHW Example #4: Rodrigo

•	Just started a job with a community health center as a CHW

•	Has 200 work hours

•	Took a training program by community health center in April 2018

Not eligible for certification yet – needs more work hours

Can only apply for Training and Experience Pathway if the health center applies for Board approval of training