Term Effective: Spring 2005

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Description:

The Community Health Worker Skills Certificate provides classroom training and field experience for individuals desiring to become Community Health Workers (CHW's), or for CHW's wishing to broaden their skills. Individuals who understand their community's culture, language and health beliefs and are interested in assisting their community in assessing health needs and addressing quality health services are encouraged to enter this program.

CHW's may provide medical, language, and cultural translation, health education, information and referrals, intake and eligibility services, case management, and advocacy to diverse populations. With these skills, CHW's can help individuals and communities prevent disease and injury and improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Job titles for this position vary. They may include case manager, community health representative, community health outreach worker, alcohol and other drug services assistant, health worker, nutrition assistant, outreach worker, public health aide, etc. CHW's may specialize in areas of greatest need in the communities they serve, e.g. maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS education, violence prevention, or alcohol and other drug services.

Research indicates a great potential for Community Health Workers to play an expanded role in the U.S. health care system. CHW's are employed primarily in county health departments, health clinics and other community-based settings. Some examples of Sonoma County agencies that employ CHW's are: Alliance Medical Center, Department of Health Services, Drug Abuse Alternatives Center, Sonoma County Indian Health Project, and Southwest Community Health Center.

Click here for more information about the program, or contact the Health Sciences Department.

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

Students are recommended to take HLE 50 in addition to other courses in the Community Health Worker program.

Prior to starting the clinical portion of the program, students must submit current immunization records, including TB test results or chest x-rays (if TB test is positive), and current adult/infant/child CPR certificate. This is a requirement of the clinical facilities.

All courses must be completed with a "C" or better.