Community Health Worker Training
We the People Community Health Worker Coalition offers a foundational Community Health Worker Training program that aligns with the Washington, DC and Maryland CHW training standards. Our training program can be customized to align with other state standards.
We also provide support for CHW's in different states to support them in identifying their state CHW certification requirements and a training provider that is credentialed in their state of service.
Course catalog
The following courses can be taken individually or as a series to obtain the We the People Community Health Worker Coalition
Verified Community Health Worker Certificate
Certified Peer Educator
Our trainers utilize the NASPA Certified Peer Educator curriculum for this course. This is an 8-unit course provides a foundational understanding of
- The role of peer education
- Helping peers make a behavior change,
- Listening skills,
- Response and referral skills,
- How to take action and intervene,
- Recognizing the role of diversity and inclusivity,
- Programming and presentation skills,
- Self-care, and group dynamics.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Certification
CERT training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. This training supports Community Health Workers in being prepared to work collaboratively with first responders to protect themselves and maximize their capability to help the greatest number of people. CERT training covers
- Fire safety
- Light search and rescue
- Team organization
- Disaster medical operations
Conflict Resolution & Mediation
This training is facilitated by credentialed conflict mediation trainers and provides a foundational understanding of skills, techniques and strategies for managing conflict and facilitating mediations from a neutral party perspective.
The training provides an understanding of mediation is a voluntary and confidential resolution process.
- Techniques and strategies that allows all participants to feel heard, to understand each other, and to improve their relationships.
- What it means, looks like and sounds like to be a neutral, non-judgmental mediator.
- Strategies for supporting parties to come up with their own lasting, win-win solutions to problems that directly affect them and their communities.
- Tools that support you in ensuring participants speak for themselves and make their own decisions.
Health Literacy
This interactive and activity-based training focuses on methods to create health communication materials that are relevant, culturally appropriate, and accessible.
After completing this training, participants will be able to:
- Define the essential components of effective communication for a diverse range of communities,
- Identify the messaging and design elements that facilitate understanding and engagement.
- Explain the importance of the use of person first language when disseminating health messaging.
- Describe the importance of community engagement in creating effective communication products and health resources.
- Choose appropriate strategies to check for understanding with populations of interest when communicating health information.
Health Systems Navigation
This course is an introduction to healthcare systems navigation. Participants develop an understanding of the healthcare systems landscape in the US, awareness of the history of healthcare system navigation and trends; and the barriers and challenges clients face in navigating these systems; along with the ethical and legal considerations within the work.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues. This course facilitates skill development on how to provide support during a mental health crisis utilizing the First Aid for Crisis model; including an introduction to understanding signs of
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Psychosis
- Eating Disorders
- Substance Use Disorders
- Non suicidal Self-injury
- Suicide
Motivational Interviewing
This training supports Community Health Workers in developing the skills to support others in exploring and resolving resistance and ambivalence to change through collaborative, client centered motivational engagement.
Personal & Professional Leadership
This training provides an opportunity to explore principals of operational effectiveness through the lens of your personal and professional leadership.
Participants gain clarity on motivation, mission and vision of change while being supported in building a personal and professional leadership plan that will guide your work and collaborations.
This training supports leaders in laying a solid foundation for starting a new role, making a career or life transition or launching a new project or venture.
Leaders walk away with a defined message of leadership, specific short and long-term goals and a plan for engaging partners and stakeholders in their work.
Stages of Change
This training provides a foundational understanding of the Stages of Change behavioral framework and techniques and strategies for supporting others in processing, navigating and managing change.
The Stages of Change covered includes:
- Pre-Contemplation
- Contemplation
- Preparation
- Action
- Maintenace
- Relapse
Team Coordination & Management
This training provides participants with a set of foundational tools for effective team and group coordination and management.
Participants develop a tool kit that will support them to
- Develop strategy plans.
- Assess operational needs and capabilities.
- Manage people and resources.
- Assess impact and progress.
- Define organizational culture.
- Communicate with their team and stakeholders.