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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
    Boston Community Health Education Center (CHEC)
    (Boston Public Health Commission)    		 Boston Luisa Tavares
    Phone: (617) 534-2432
    or (617) 534-5181    		 Boston Public Health Commission: CHEC
    Lowell Community Health Education Center (CHEC)
    (Lowell Community Health Center)    		 Lowell CHEC@lchealth.org Lowell Community Health Center: CHEC
    Outreach Worker Training Institute,
    (Center for Health Impact)    		 Worcester Phone: (508) 756-6676 Center for Health Impact
    Holyoke Community College Holyoke Janet Lavin Grant
    jgrant@hcc.edu
    Phone: (413) 552-2445    		 Holyoke Community College: Free Community Health Worker Classes
    DPH Patient Navigator Training Course Hybrid/Online Course (over a 3 month period, participants will complete 3 in-person days and 12 online modules)

    Marilyn Gardner, R.N.
    marilyn.gardner@state.ma.us
    Phone: (617) 624-5403

    		  
    Northern Essex Community College Lawrence

    Jacqueline Dick, Program Coordinator
    jdick@necc.mass.edu
    Phone: (978) 738-7412

    		 Northern Essex Community College: Health@NECC
    JRI Health Boston Rachel Weidenfeld, Director of Community Health
    rweidenfeld@jri.org
    Phone: (857) 399-1915 x2423
    Fax: (857) 399-1901
         		 JRI Health: Training
    Berkshire Community College Pittsfield Elena V Nuciforo
    elenavkhatskevich@gmail.com    		 Berkshire Community College: Community Health Worker Certificate
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