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

Program	Location	Contact information	Website
Berkshire Community College	1350 West Street Pittsfield, MA 01201	Ms. Tiffany Moreno, Director of Workforce Development Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program first offered: Fall Semester 2017	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: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	Boston Public Health Commission: CHEC
Cambridge Health Alliance, Community Health Improvement Learning Institute (CHILI)	1035 Cambridge Street, Suite 26 Cambridge, MA 02141	Camille Defender-Alexandre, Program Manager Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	Cambridge Health Alliance
Holyoke Community College	303 Homestead Ave Holyoke, Ma 01040	Ms. Margaret Downing, Program Coordinator Program first offered: August 2022	Holyoke Community College: Free Community Health Worker Classes
Justice Resource Institute (JRI)	555 Amory Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Rachel Weidenfeld, Director of Community Health and Education Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	JRI Health: Training
Lowell Community Health Education Center (CHEC) (Lowell Community Health Center)	161 Jackson Street Lowell, Ma 01852	Ms. Stacey L Thompson, Director of Workforce Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program first offered: August 2015	Lowell Community Health Center: CHEC
New England Public Health Training Center, BU School of Public Health	Online	Karla Todd, Senior Program Manager, Training Specialist [e-mail]	New England Public Health Training Center
Northern Essex Community College	414 Commons Street Lawrence, MA 01840	Ms. Jacqueline Dick, Program Coordinator Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]  Program first offered: September 2016	Northern Essex Community College: Health@NECC
North Shore Community College	1 Ferncroft Road Danvers, MA 01923	Dr. Ron Smith & Dr. Dianne Paltergill Email: [e-mail] and [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	Northshore Community Health Worker - HEA120
Outreach Worker Training Institute, (Center for Health Impact)	35 Harvard Street, Suite 300 Worcester, MA 01609	Harvard Thompson, Director of Health Integration and Strategy Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	Center for Health Impact
STARR Institute of Fall River (Stanley Street Treatment and Resources)	75 Weaver St. Fall River, MA 02720	Janel Doloiras, Administrator & Project Director Email: [e-mail] Mobile: [phone] Office: 508-989-8612 x2950	SSTAR – Healthcare From The Heart
Quincy College	1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA. 02169	Kate Lopci, Vice President of Workforce, Economic, and Institutional Development Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	Community Healthcare Worker | Quincy College
Tufts University CO-HERE	136 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02111	Dr. Kimberly Dong Breen, Ph.D. 136 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02111 Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]	Community Health Workers Engaging in Integrated Care (COHERE)