Training information for Community Health Workers

Massachusetts has a variety of experienced CHW training organizations. They provide training in core competencies, specialty health topics as well as training for those who supervise CHWs.

Core Competencies for CHWs

The ten core competencies for CHWs were developed over two decades of consensus building in Massachusetts among key stakeholder. Massachusetts’ core competencies are in alignment with national consensus on CHW core competencies. Read more about the core competencies for CHW certification.

  1. Outreach Methods and Strategies
  2. Individual and Community Assessment
  3. Effective Communication
  4. Cultural Responsiveness and Mediation
  5. Education to Promote Healthy Behavior Change
  6. Care Coordination and System Navigation
  7. Use of Public Health Concepts and Approaches
  8. Advocacy and Community Capacity Building
  9. Documentation
  10. Professional Skills and Conduct

Training Programs Offering CHW and CHW Supervisor Training

ProgramLocationContact informationWebsite
Berkshire Community College1350 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Ms. Tiffany Moreno, Director of Workforce Development
Email: tmoreno@berkshirecc.edu 
Phone: 413-236-4511
Program approved on July 13, 2021
Berkshire Community College: Community Health Worker Certificate
Boston Community Health Education Center (CHEC)
(Boston Public Health Commission)
1010 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
Anjali Nath, Program Director
Email: checenter@bphc.org
Phone: 617-534-5181
Program approved on June 13, 2023
Boston Public Health Commission: CHEC
Cambridge Health Alliance, Community Health Improvement Learning Institute (CHILI)350 Main Street, 5th Floor 
Malden, MA 02148
Marianne Tokarski, Director of Health Education, Access & Outreach
Email: mtokarski@challiance.org
Phone: 617-503-8430
Program approved on June 13, 2023
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cape Cod Community College2240 Iyannough Road
West Barnstable, MA 02668
Tammi Jacobson, Director/Chief Workforce Development & Training Officer
Email: tjacobsen@capecod.edu
Phone: 508-375-5011
Program approved on September 10, 2024
Cape Cod Community College
Center for Health Impact35 Harvard Street, Suite 300
Worcester, MA 01609
Harvard Thompson, Director of Health Integration and Strategy
Email: hthompson@centerforhealthimpact.org
Phone: 508-556-1337
Program approved on June 13, 2023
Center for Health Impact
Epilepsy Foundation New England175 Cabot St, #301
Lowell. MA 01854
Kathryn Baley, Director of Community Health Worker Certificate Program
Email: kbailey@epilepsynewengland.org
Phone: 617-506-6041
Program approved on March 11, 2025
Epilepsy Foundation New England
Justice Resource Institute (JRI)555 Amory Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Rachel Weidenfeld, Director of Community Health and Education
Email: rweidenfeld@jri.org
Phone: 857-399-1915
Program approved on June 13, 2023

 
JRI Health: Training
Holyoke Community College (HCC)

 
 Discontinued as of July 1, 2024 
Lowell Community Health Education Center (CHEC)
(Lowell Community Health Center)
161 Jackson Street
Lowell, Ma 01852
Ms. Stacey L Thompson, Director of Workforce
Email: CHEC@lchealth.org
Phone: 978-452-0003
Program approved on July 19, 2022
Lowell Community Health Center: CHEC
Northern Essex Community College414 Commons Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
Ms. Jacqueline Dick, Program Coordinator 
Email: jdick@necc.mass.edu
Phone: (978) 655-5875 
Program approved on September 14, 2021
Northern Essex Community College
North Shore Community College1 Ferncroft Road
Danvers, MA 01923
Dr. Ron Smith & Dr. Dianne Paltergill
Email: rsmith@northshore.edu and dpaltergill@northore.edu
Phone: 978-762-4000
Program approved on May 9, 2023
Northshore Community Health Worker - HEA120
Quincy College1250 Hancock Street
Quincy, MA. 02169
Kate Lopci, Vice President of Workforce, Economic, and Institutional Development
Email: klopci@quincycollege.edu
Phone: 617-984-1700
Program approved on June 13, 2023
Quincy College
STARR Institute of Fall River (Stanley Street Treatment and Resources)75 Weaver St.
Fall River, MA 02720
Janel Doloiras, Administrator & Project Director
Email: jdoloiras@sstar.org
Phone (Mobile): 413-219-6633
Phone (Office): 508-989-8612 x2950
Program approved on February 14, 2023

 
SSTAR – Healthcare From The Heart
Tufts University CO-HERE136 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02111
Dr. Kimberly Dong Breen, Ph.D. Email: Kimberly.Dong@tufts.edu
Phone: (617) 636-3659
Program approved on August 16, 2022
Community Health Workers Engaging in Integrated Care (COHERE)
University of Massachusetts Boston: Therapeutic Mentoring Community Health Worker Program100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
Amy Cook, Associate Professor and Department Chair
Email: Amy.Cook@umb.edu
Phone: 617-287-7585
Program approved on September 10, 2024
UMass Boston

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