Community Health Certificate (CHC) is a non-credit program offered
by Berkshire Community College.
The program provides rigorous training for public
health workers to serve
as advocates and liaisons between
traditionally underserved populations and health/social
service providers. Such public
health workers include but are not limited to community
health workers, case coordinators, community
coordinators, community health advisors, community health representatives,
community liaisons, family service coordinators, home visitors, parent aides,
patient navigators, promodoras,
promotor(a)s de salud,
outreach advocates, outreach educators, prevention coordinators, street
outreach workers, youth workers, community health assistants, community
engagement specialists, health promoters, etc. The program may be of benefit to
those who are exploring educational and career pathways in community health,
human services, health care, or
public health. BCC Community
Health certificate program is based on the standards and regulations for
Community Health Worker Education and Training Programs approved by the Massachusetts Board
of Certification of Community Health Workers (according to 272 CMR 5.00).
Program
Content
The
program is based on interactive training and experiential learning in ten core
competencies for community health work identified by
the Massachusetts Board of Certification of Community Health Workers: (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, and (10) professional skills
and conduct.
The
program addresses essential
health topics relevant to community health work in Berkshire County such as
chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc.), sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs), substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, opioids, etc.), physical
and mental disabilities, reproductive
health issues, domestic violence, mental health, trauma. The program also focuses on
community health work in emergency and disaster situations.
The program participants will learn the basics of contact tracing for
preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Program Structure
The program includes 42 hours
of face-to-face instruction, 42 hours
of online instruction through a learning management system (Moodle),
and 10 hours of fieldwork at a local non-profit organization. The
program uses teaching methods appropriate for adult learning: experiential
learning, interactive discussions, project-based assignments, group work,
solution-centered activities, etc. The
program relies on local experts in community health to present and explain
health issues and existing community resources to the program participants. The
content is designed by public health professionals and delivered by specialists
directly involved in community health work in Berkshire
County. Each of the core competencies for
community health work will be evaluated through assessment tools and
a final project. Participants who pass the course at least at 80% rate (based
on attendance and assessment results) will receive a certificate of completion
from Berkshire Community College.
High
School Seniors may apply with parental permission.
