Certificate in Community Health Worker
Description
The Community Health Worker Postsecondary Certificate prepares individuals to serve as trusted frontline professionals who address disparities in the accessibility and quality of health and social services. Community health workers (CHWs) serve as critical liaisons between individuals and service systems, fostering equitable, coordinated care through advocacy and engagement.
The program equips students with foundational knowledge and applied skills to build collaborative relationships within their communities, assess and respond to localized needs, and advocate for access to essential resources. Through education, outreach, and capacity-building, CHWs contribute to the enhancement of individual and community well-being by promoting health literacy and supporting self-sufficiency.
As a result of earning the Community Health Worker Certificate, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to build rapport and communicate effectively with individuals, families, and service providers to support trust and engagement.
- Apply strategies to coordinate care and facilitate access to health and social services across diverse community settings.
- Analyze barriers to health equity by examining impacts of social determinants on individual and community well-being.
- Advocate for improved health outcomes by developing and promoting client-centered solutions within systems of care.
Program Requirements
Main Campus Core Requirements (18 credits)
PSYC 101 Introductory PsychologyIntroduces the student to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. All major sub-areas of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, physiological, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception) are explored, as well as the major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic). Formerly PSY 121 Introductory Psychology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core: Area II
SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
SNHP 220 Health Promotion, Policy and PoliticsThis course explores political factors that influence patient outcomes and health promotion strategies to enhance health and health care systems. Students are engaged in understanding how health care policy shapes health care systems, determining accessibility, accountability and affordability. Students will evaluate how health care delivery systems are organized and financed, and the effect this has on patient care.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area
SNHP 228 Patient AdvocacyThe focus of this course is on patient advocacy. The course considers patient advocacy within the background and development of the health care delivery system in the United States and the forces associate d with q uality of care. The course explores trends and issues impacting health care delivery and the role of the advocate in health promotion and health education in a complex health care delivery landscape.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
SNHP 230 Community Health Workers in the U.SThis course focuses on the role of Community Health Workers in different populations. Students will focus on advocacy, cultural awareness, and access of services in communities. The course will include various group activities and simulations for conflict resolution, client-centered outreach, and behavior change.
3 credits
SNHP 321 Health & Wellness ProgrammingThe course focuses on theoretical approaches to behavior change while examining public health issues. Students will examine various methods of planning and implementing programs to fit various populations, paying attention to underserved populations and how to be culturally competent. Formally EXSC 321.
*3 credits
Trinity at THEARC Core Requirements (18 credits)
PSYC 100 Fundamentals of PsychologyIntroduces students to the primary concepts of psychology, and to the tools of psychologists use to study the wide variety of human behavior. Provides a general overview of the fields of psychology through lectures, readings, shsort thought papers, and interactive class activities. The course surveys several major topic areas: the biology of behavior, learning, memory, conciousness, personality, and abnormal behavior. Students will learn to critically evaluate the state of knowledge in the field, particularly as it applies to a higly diverse society as or own.
SOCY 101 Social IssuesExamines contemporary social issues in the United States using current sociological approaches and theories. Topics include poverty, racism and sexual discrimination, health care, aging, violence, family and community structures, and substance abuse. This course is open only to students in the Associate's Degree program. No other students are allowed to register.
3 credits
SNHP 200 Political Policies and ProcessExplores policies and political processes that impact health care systems and influence patient outcomes. Students will explore the politics of local and global health care through a historical lens and examine how these policies have shaped our current health care systems.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
SNHP 208 Client AdvocacyExplores patient advocacy against the background and development of the health care delivery system in the United States and the various forces impacting quality of care. Examines trends and issues in health care, the role of the advocate in health promotion, and health education in a complex health care delivery landscape.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
SNHP 221 Health and Wellness PlanningFocuses on planning successful community health and wellness events, and develops effective communication strategies for community health messaging. Covers the six dimensions of health and wellness as a frame for conducting community-based needs assessments to support implementation of wellness programs. Explores a variety of diverse resources to enhance community health and wellness.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
SNHP 231 Working in Community HealthFocuses on the roles of Community Health Workers in different populations. Explores advocacy, cultural awareness, and access to services in diverse communities through various group activities and simulations for conflict resolution, client-centered outreach, and behavior change.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
Program Policies
Transfer Credit Policy: Transfer credits may be accepted for a certificate program if they meet the student’s planned degree program just as they are for undergraduate degree programs. Students may transfer up to six total credits in alignment with the certificate curriculum. All other Trinity transfer credit policies apply.
Stackable Credentials: Trinity certificate courses may be applied to degree programs. Students enrolled in degree programs at Trinity may simultaneously pursue a certificate and these courses will count toward both credentials.
Academic Standing: Students must earn a C or better in all college level courses in order for the courses to count toward the post-secondary certificate. Courses in the certificate programs are repeatable. Satisfactory academic progress is a criterion for the award of financial aid. Students not making academic progress will be referred to their academic advisor for academic counseling. All other Trinity academic policies and procedures apply to certificate courses.