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Education & Training

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There are a number of training programs across Pennsylvania. And this list is growing, from Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) approved certification training programs to continuing education opportunities. Below is the growing list of known providers who offer training classes that meet PCB certification standards. (The PCB also has a list of providers on their website)

Training Overview

 

Community health worker training programs are designed to provide the core competencies needed for work in community-based and health center settings, while providing comprehensive information about accessing healthcare and other social/community resources which are specific to the socioeconomic and geographic region where the training is being held.  

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While training programs vary, in Pennsylvania, accredited training programs must provide education relevant to at least these 8 domains: 

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  1. Community Health Concepts

  2. Advocacy and Capacity Building

  3. Care Coordination

  4. Health Literacy and Education

  5. Safety and Self-Care

  6. Cultural Competency

  7. Communication and Interpersonal Skills

  8. Ethical Responsibilities and Professionalism

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Practically, this may look like classes on any of the following topics:

  • History of Community Health Workers

  • Communication, Networking & Conflict

  • Boundaries

  • Personal Safety

  • Building and Maintaining Relationships

  • HIPAA Privacy Rule

  • Health Literacy

  • Mental Health First Aid

  • Trauma-Informed Care

  • Mandated Reporting

  • Documentation

  • Chronic Disease

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Preventive Care

  • Benefits Check up

  • Becoming a Healthier You

  • Accident Prevention

  • Opioid Brief Intervention

  • Every Smoker, Every Time

 

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Continuing Education for CHWs

Certified Community Health Workers (CCHW) are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education relevant to community health, including 3 hours in ethics every two years. The recertification schedule is every two years from your initial certification date or most recent recertification date

CHW Training Programs
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Drexel Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice

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https://drexel.edu/cnsj/projects/community-health-workers/

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HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College)

The Wellness and Health Promotion Associate Degree Program at HACC has a Community Health track and CHW training may qualify for course credit if students are interested in continuing their education at HACC. Our program is also available 100% online which makes it accessible across the state of PA. For more information, please contact Sandra T. Kroft at stkroft@hacc.edu.

https://www.hacc.edu/ProgramsandCourses/Wellness-and-Health-Promotion-3610.cfm

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PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC)

AHEC training programs are designed to provide the core competencies needed for work in community-based and inpatient settings. This training also provides comprehensive information about accessing healthcare and other social/community resources which are specific to the region in the training location site.

https://www.pachw.org/education-training

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