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

Organization	Program	Location	Contact information	Website
Berkshire Community College	Certified Community Health Worker	1350 West Street Pittsfield, MA 01201	Tiffany Moreno, Director of Workforce Development Email: [e-mail]  Phone: [phone] Program approved on July 13, 2021	Berkshire Community College: Community Health Worker Certificate
Boston Adult Technical Academy	Community Health Worker Pathway Program	20 Church Street Boston, MA 02116	Jaenia Fernandez, CHW Instructor Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on September 23, 2025	Boston Adult Technical Academy
Boston Public Health Commission	Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate (COEC)	1010 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02118	Anjali Nath, Program Director Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on June 13, 2023	Boston Public Health Commission: CHEC
Cambridge Health Alliance	Community Health Worker Core Competency Training	1035 Cambridge Street, Suite 26 Cambridge, MA 02141	Camille Defender-Alexandre, Program Manager Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on June 13, 2023	Cambridge Health Alliance
Cape Cod Community College	Community Health Worker Certificate	2240 Iyannough Road West Barnstable, MA 02668	Tammi Jacobson, Director/Chief Workforce Development & Training Officer Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on September 10, 2024	Cape Cod Community College
Center for Health Impact	Community Health Worker Core Competency Training	35 Harvard Street, Suite 300 Worcester, MA 01609	Harvard Thompson, Director of Health Integration and Strategy Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on June 13, 2023	Center for Health Impact
Epilepsy Foundation New England	Epilepsy New England Community Health Worker Program	175 Cabot St, #301 Lowell. MA 01854	Kathryn Baley, Director of Community Health Worker Certificate Program Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on March 11, 2025	Epilepsy Foundaton New England
Holyoke Community College (HCC)	Core Competencies for Community Health Workers		Discontinued as of July 1, 2024
Justice Resource Institute (JRI)	CHW Core Competency Training Series	555 Amory Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Rachel Weidenfeld, Director of Community Health and Education Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on June 13, 2023	JRI Health: Training
Lowell Community Health Center	Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate (COEC) Program	161 Jackson Street Lowell, Ma 01852	Stacey L Thompson, Director of Workforce Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on July 19, 2022	Lowell Community Health Center: CHEC
Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers(MACHW)	Community Health Worker Core Competency Training	2 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116	Yoann S. Felix, Director of Education and Workforce Development  Email: [e-mail]  Phone: [phone] Program approved on March 3, 2026	Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers
Northern Essex Community College	Community Health Worker Certificate	414 Commons Street Lawrence, MA 01840	Ms. Jacqueline Dick, Program Coordinator  Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]  Program approved on September 14, 2021	Northern Essex Community College
North Shore Community College	Community Health Worker Certificate	1 Ferncroft Road Danvers, MA 01923	Dr. Ron Smith & Dr. Dianne Paltergill Email: [e-mail] and [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on May 9, 2023	Northshore Community Health Worker - HEA120
Quincy College	Community Health Worker Program	1250 Hancock Street Quincy, MA. 02169	Kate Lopci, Vice President of Workforce, Economic, and Institutional Development Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on June 13, 2023	Quincy College
STARR Institute of Fall River (Stanley Street Treatment and Resources)	Core Competencies for Community Health Workers	75 Weaver St. Fall River, MA 02720	Janel Doloiras, Administrator & Project Director Email: [e-mail] Phone (Mobile): 413-219-6633 Phone (Office): 508-989-8612 x2950 Program approved on February 14, 2023	SSTAR – Healthcare From The Heart
Tufts University School of Medicine	Community Health Workers Engaging in Integrated Care (COHERE)	136 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02111	Kimberly Dong Breen, Ph.D. Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Program approved on August 16, 2022	Community Health Workers Engaging in Integrated Care (COHERE)
University of Massachusetts Boston	Therapeutic Mentoring Community Health Worker Program		Discontinued as of July 1, 2026 and replaced with the program offered by UMass Boston Online and Continuing Education.
UMass Boston Online and Continuing Education	Therapeutic Mentoring Community Health Worker Program	100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125	Ms. Jean Rhodes, Frank L. Boyden Professor and Director of the Center of Evidence-Based Mentoring Email: [e-mail]  Phone: [phone] Program approved March 3, 2026	UMass Boston Online and Continuing Education
UMass Boston Online and Continuing Education	Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Community Health Worker Program	100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125	Ms. Jean Rhodes, Frank L. Boyden Professor and Director of the Center of Evidence-Based Mentoring Email: [e-mail]  Phone: [phone] Program approved June 16 , 2026	UMass Boston Online and Continuing Education
Urban College of Boston	Core Competencies for Community Behavioral Health Workers	2 Boylston St., Second Floor, Boston, MA 02116	Caleb D. Sabatka, Assistant Professor and Program Chair, Human Services Administration Email: [e-mail]  Phone: [phone] Program approved on January 13, 2026	Urban College of Boston