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.
- Outreach Methods and Strategies
- Individual and Community Assessment
- 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
Training Programs Offering CHW and CHW Supervisor Training
Program | Location | Contact information | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Berkshire Community College | 1350 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 College | 2240 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 Impact | 35 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 England | 175 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 College | 414 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 College | 1 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 College | 1250 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-HERE | 136 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 Program | 100 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 |