Community Health Worker

​Program at a Glance
•    100 hours of instructor-led training
•    40-hour supervised practicum
•    Instruction aligned with all nine Maryland CHW core competencies
•    Applied case studies, role plays, simulations, and skills demonstrations
•    Health coaching and behavior-change training
•    Chronic disease prevention and self-management support
•    Telehealth and digital health navigation
•    Career and workforce-readiness preparation
•    Capstone project and professional portfolio development

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What Students Will Learn
Students will develop practical knowledge and skills in:
Public Health and Health Equity - Understand population health, prevention, health disparities, Social Determinants of Health, and the conditions that affect health and quality of life.
Communication and Cultural Humility - Build trust, listen effectively, communicate in plain language, use teach-back, work across cultures, and support individuals with respect.
Care Coordination and Resource Navigation - Help clients navigate healthcare, behavioral health, housing, food, transportation, employment, and other community resources.
Health Education and Behavior Change - Support health, lifestyle, and wellbeing goals through motivational interviewing, coaching, action planning, and self-management strategies.
Chronic Disease Prevention - Help individuals reduce risk, prevent disease progression, improve health measures, and strengthen quality of life.
Telehealth and Digital Access - Assist community members with telehealth visits, patient portals, digital health tools, and common technology barriers.
Outreach and Community Engagement - Plan outreach activities, build partnerships, conduct community education, and strengthen community capacity.
Ethics and Professional Practice - Maintain confidentiality, follow professional boundaries, document services correctly, and work effectively as part of a care team.

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Program Outcomes
Graduates will be prepared to:
•    Conduct community outreach and engagement
•    Provide health education using plain language
•    Support chronic disease prevention and self-management
•    Navigate healthcare and social-service systems
•    Coordinate referrals and follow-up
•    Assist with telehealth and digital access
•    Address Social Determinants of Health
•    Support patient-centered and value-based care
•    Advocate for individuals and communities
•    Work effectively within interdisciplinary teams
•    Demonstrate ethical and professional CHW practice

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Who Should Apply?
The program is designed for individuals who want to improve health outcomes, advance health equity, and serve as trusted links between communities, healthcare organizations, and social-service systems. Prior clinical experience is not required. The program may be a strong fit for:
•    Individuals already serving their communities
•    Healthcare support staff
•    Outreach workers
•    Patient navigators
•    Peer-support professionals
•    Faith- and community-based leaders
•    Social-service professionals
•    Public health workers
•    Career changers interested in community health
•    People with lived experience who want to help others
•    Employers seeking to develop or expand a CHW workforce

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Where Community Health Workers Can Serve
Community Health Workers may work in:
•    Hospitals and health systems
•    Primary care practices
•    Federally qualified health centers
•    Local and state health departments
•    Managed-care organizations
•    Behavioral health programs
•    Community-based organizations
•    Faith-based organizations
•    Schools and educational programs
•    Housing and social-service agencies
•    Maternal and child health programs
•    Chronic disease prevention programs
•    Rural health initiatives
•    Telehealth and digital-navigation programs

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