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NEW - Community Health Worker (CHW) - CERT

Click here Flyer Fall 2nd 8 week
Fall 2023 Enrollment form - 2nd 8 week

What is the role of a CHW?

Community Health Workers (CHWs) assist individuals and communities in adopting and maintaining positive health behaviors as well as helping people access health care and social services to build healthier communities.

Where do CHWs work?

CHWs can work in a wide variety of settings including but not limited to healthcare clinics, hospitals, community or faith-based organizations, insurance companies, public health departments, and tribal health clinics.

LCC Curriculum: 10 Credit Hour

CHW courses will count as electives towards completion of an Allied Health Certificate or Associate of Applied Science. This credit-bearing CHW curriculum is approved by the NM Department of Health Office of Community Health Workers.

Community Health Worker I

  • CHW 101 (3 cr) Asynchronous: complete work on your own time, no formal class meeting time
  • CHW 101Lab Hybrid (1 cr) lab component that will meet face-to-face or online
  • COMPETENCIES: interpersonal skills, communication skills, health coaching skills, service Coordination skills and capacity building skills.

Community Health Worker II

  • CHW 102 Sec 01 (3 cr) Asynchronous: complete work on your own time, no formal class meeting time
  • CHW 102LH Sec 01 (1 cr) T lab component that will meet face-to-face or online
  • COMPETENCIES: advocacy skills, technical teaching skills, community health outreach skills and community knowledge and assessment.

Community Health Worker Field/Clinical

  • CHW110 (2 cr, 45 contact hours); Work on your own and face-to-face (must successfully complete both CHW 101 and 102 to enroll). This course will require students to provide and submit additional information to the Department of Allied Health to include but not be limited to immunization records, drug screen, criminal background check, etc.

External Certification

Students who successfully complete the full CHW sequence (10 Credit hours - CHW 101/101L, 102/102L and CHW 110) would be eligible to apply for New Mexico CHW certification Additional Certifications Included in the Program

  • HIPAA
  • AHA BLS CPR
  • QPR Gatekeeper (Question, Refer, Persuade, 3 simple steps anyone can take to save a life)

Important Note: this curriculum will be taught in conjunction with an Integrated Education and Training (IET) Adult Education instructor who will be responsible for providing all students with academic support. There may be additional time required outside of the traditional class time for students needing extra support.

Supported by the Northern NM Workforce Integration Network (WIN) Grant and Integrated Educational Training instructional support from Adult Education and a WIN Navigator.

For more information, please contact Amberlyn Gonzales at 505-454-5303, or Dr. Carol Linder 505-454-5387 or email AHPS@luna.edu