What is a Community Health Worker?
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of, and/or has an unusually close understanding of, the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community they serve. A CHW builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. A-B Tech is proud to partner with the Office of Rural Health through NCDHS and the NC CHW Association to bring this certificate program to our region.
Community Health Worker Classes provide individuals with the required knowledge, tools, and resources to become recognized as a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) in North Carolina. Instruction covers nine core competencies essential to working as a certified CHW including communication, capacity building, service, coordination, interpersonal, advocacy, outreach, and personal/professional skills. Knowledge-based competencies include health and social issues that disproportionately impact clients.
- Total class hours: 96
- Available platforms: mainly online, but occasionally in-person. Offerings vary by semester
- Languages offered: This class is offered in English and Spanish. Offerings vary by semester.
- Prerequisites: Students must have the ability to receive, compose, send an email, access web-based material, save independent coursework to a computer file upload/download documents, and have the ability to navigate and access Zoom. A laptop or desktop with camera capability is required. Spanish class is delivered in Spanish, but students must have the ability to read, speak, and write basic English.
- Contact information: email workforceprograms@abtech.edu or call (828) 398-7934
Search for classes and register online at Continuing Education Online Registration