CHW Training and Curriculum Development

The training content is based on the South Carolina Core Competencies and directly reflects the list of CHW Core Competencies that are recognized nationally Per the South Carolina Core Competencies, skills within the following eleven domains are emphasized throughout the training:

1. Communication Skills

2. Interpersonal and Relationship Building Skills

3. Service Coordination and Navigation Skills

4. Capacity Building Skills

5. Advocacy Skills

6. Education and Facilitation Skills

7. Individual and Community Assessment Skills

8. Outreach Skills

9.Professional Skills and Conduct

10. Evaluation and Research Skills

11. Knowledge Base

Not only does the training serve as an experiential learning opportunity that provides participants with the firm foundational knowledge necessary to begin work as a Community Health Worker, but the training also is a gateway to certification eligibility.  After all phases of training have been completed, training participants will be prepared and eligible to sit for the South Carolina Community Health Worker Exam (administered by the South Carolina Community Health Worker Association).

If you are interested in signing up for general admission Core Competency Training, please apply here. Core Competency Training applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and all applicants who qualify to be training participants will be updated on upcoming trainings.

Training instructors will take attendance at the beginning of every class to make sure that training participants are present and engaged for at least 80% of course activity. “Out of Classroom Activity” will be tracked by the trainers based on completion of out of class assignments (which will be turned in at the beginning of class) and participation in class activities (which is often contingent upon completion of “Out of Classroom Activity”). Similarly, preceptors will track attendance to ensure that training participants are present and have completed the work for at least 80% of the practicum portion of the course as well. Practicum (in-field experience) material will be standardized, but because class participants will have preceptors located at different facilities, the material may be delivered in slightly different styles or formats. *All preceptors are trained and approved by CHWI.

As we move back to in-person training, locations will vary based on the needs of each class. We will still offer at least one virtual training course per year. Practicum location is contingent upon the location of practicum preceptors (Typically the preceptors’ place of employment). 

Training will be offered on a quarterly basis. If there is an urgent demand for a large number of CHWs to be trained outside of the quarterly schedule, please reach out to CCHA staff and, contingent upon training team capacity, CCHA may be able to accommodate your request. Even if a training cohort reaches capacity, we encourage individuals to proceed to fill out the core competency training application at https://forms.gle/fCje99yUh8e7Jhju6  . This will allow you to be on the waiting list for training should participants choose not to participate. It also allows you to be on the priority list for our next training should you not be admitted into this one. If you are interested in being notified when the next training is being offered, please contact a member of the training staff to be added to the CCHA listserve or vist our training calendar at https://communityhealthalignment.org/events/ .

When training is in-person, the facilitated learning portion is typically delivered 2 to 3 full days per week, over the span of about 8 weeks. This facilitated learning schedule is subject to change based on the needs and abilities of potential program participants and CHWI training facilitators. Any changes will be clearly communicated to ensure adequate planning time.  The practicum portion can begin after 10 hours of facilitation has been completed or it can begin after the in-class learning portion has been completed.  The practicum phase of training should be completed no later than 6 weeks after the final in-class training session. 

Virtual classes are every weekday for 3 weeks from 9AM to 12 PM (for the first 45-hour portion of facilitated learning) followed by practicum participation that is monitored and scheduled between training participant and preceptor (80 hours) over the course of 6-8 weeks, with the final portion of facilitated learning being every weekday from 9AM to 12PM (35-hour portion of facilitated learning). The total duration of the training is 160 hours.

CHWI Preceptors will serve as supervisors and mentors during the practicum phase of the CHWI training curriculum for designated individuals seeking their community health worker certification. Read more. If you are interested in being a preceptor,  please contact Carmen Blanco blancoc@mailbox.sc.edu or Mychelle Harris at mychelle@sc.edu . 

If program participants do not have someone within their organization who can serve as a preceptor, the training coordinator will assist in preceptor to participant matching. Preceptors are assigned to participants  based upon proximity in location (preferably within the same organization). All preceptors are trained and selected by Center for Community Health Alignment. Preceptor applications are accepted on a rolling basis and all applicants who qualify to be preceptors will be updated on upcoming preceptor trainings.

Training is priced at $1850.00 per participant. Because the CHWI Community Health Worker Core Competency Training has been approved by the South Carolina Community Health Worker Credentialing Council, Completion of the CHWI Core Competency Training makes participants eligible to take the exam which is administered by the South Carolina Community Health Worker Association. Only after a Credentialing Council-approved course (like CHWI’s) has been successfully completed AND the SCCHWA exam has been passed, can an individual be considered certified in the state of South Carolina.

There are discounted rates for Core Competency Training. If an individual is being financially supported by a non-profit organization that makes less than $200,000.00 a year the price of registration is $1050.00 per participant and if an individual is not being financially supported by an organization to register for the class, price of registration is only $400.00.

Classes ideally contain 8-16 participants.

M. Greg Green is the Center for Community Health Alignment Training Manager. All training related inquiries can be directed to Greg via phone (803) 673-4610 or email mgreggreen@sc.edu