Idaho Community Health Worker Training
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
1. What is a Community Health Worker?
Community health workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who have a deep understanding of the communities they serve. This trusting relationship enables them to serve as a liaison, intermediary, or link between health and social services and the community, facilitating access to services and improving the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.
Community health workers are dedicated individuals who function along a continuum ranging from individual and community development to service delivery and promoting community empowerment and social justice. They often help connect people to the necessary healthcare information and services.
2. Do I need to be a nurse or have a degree to be a CHW?
To be a Community Health Worker, you do NOT need any specific credentials or degrees. Community health workers typically have deep roots or shared life experiences in the communities they serve. They share similar values, ethnic backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses, and usually speak the same language as the people they serve.
Application/Enrollment/Registration
3. Who is eligible to take the training?
Anyone.
4. Is there a cost to take the course?
The CHW course costs $175 and includes the core course curriculum, as well as five Health Specific Modules (HSMs). If you would like to take additional HSMs, the cost is $25 each. The course is now open for enrollment. Visit www.cetrain.isu.edu to create a profile, register, pay, and enroll in the next CHW course. No application is required to attend the course.
5. When and how will the class be taught?
Training will be delivered in 13 weeks of live in-class core curriculum and five additional asynchronous, self-paced Health Specific Modules (HSM). The CHW course is delivered in a hybrid format, with partial live sessions and online components via a web-based classroom. The CHW core course comprises 39 hours of live online or in-person learning, plus an additional 9 hours of asynchronous Health Specific Modules, for a total of 48 hours of coursework.
The next CHW core course will be delivered in a hybrid online web-based classroom, beginning January 2022, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM (MST). The class will meet in the live online classroom three times during the thirteen weeks. During weeks 2-6 and 8-12, students will work asynchronously (on their own, self-paced). Students are also required to choose from 20+ available asynchronous Health-Specific Modules and complete five by the end of the class.
6. Is there a penalty if I don't complete the course?
There is no penalty for dropping out, but no refund will be made.
7. How do I access the course?
- Visit cetrain.isu.edu/chw
- Press "Registration" and then "Enroll".
- Create a new profile.
- Finalize enrollment by selecting "Complete" on the enrollment selection page.
- You will now be registered. You may access the course by following the "Moodle" class link from the "My Account" page.
8. What do I get for taking the course?
The purpose of this course is to provide a deep understanding of a community health worker as a public health professional who promotes full and equal access to necessary health and social services by applying their unique understanding of the experiences, language, and culture of the communities they serve.
In actively participating and completing the course, you will:
- Identify and define the role of a Community Health Worker
- Examine and practice communication strategies with culturally diverse populations and health providers
- Identify and discuss health promotion concepts, health behavior changes, and outreach planning
- Employ and practice assessment, care coordination, time management, documentation,
- advocacy, and case presentation strategies
- Review and identify barriers and literacy strategies for healthcare
- Discuss and review common diseases affecting communities
- Examine and practice health system and insurance navigation
Students who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate verifying course completion. Continuing Education credits are available for a small additional cost.
9. How do I print my Certificate of Completion?
After successful completion, you will receive an email with a link to your Certificate of Completion and printing instructions.
10. What do I do if I want the Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?
This course is 4.8 CEUs. There is a $20 CEU recording fee per person per course. Midway through the course, you will receive an email asking if you would like to request CEUs and providing instructions on how to obtain them. If you wish to receive CEUs, after completing the course successfully, you will receive a form in the mail. You will complete and sign the enclosed document, enclose the payment of $20, and return it to ISU. For further information: What are CEUs?
Online Class Technical Information
11. What equipment will I need to attend the online classes?
You will need a computer with 256 MB of RAM, 20 MB of free disk space, internet access (a Broadband connection is highly recommended), and a Sound Card with a microphone and headphones (a headset with a microphone and headphones is highly recommended).
12. How will I know what to do to get into the class?
To facilitate instruction, students are required to familiarize themselves with Blackboard Collaborate and Moodle and to test that their system is working before the first day of class. Instructors will not be able to take time from class to answer technology questions. This is your responsibility. (Also see the FAQ about Moodle and the FAQ about Blackboard Collaborate)
13. Where can I learn about Moodle?
Moodle is the Learning Management System for the CHW course. It is the gateway to Blackboard Collaborate, which is the virtual classroom.
Here is a general orientation video to help you become familiar with Moodle and how to use it:https://youtu.be/b6LvV3vw034
To access the CHW Moodle page, go to http://cetrain.isu.edu/enrollment/course/community-health-worker/ and log in. From the "My Account" page, click on the class and you will be taken to the CHW Moodle page.
Please use Mozilla Firefox as your browser. Do Not use Internet Explorer as your browser; it is not compatible with various Moodle functions. If you experience a technical issue logging in to Moodle, please contact the Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Training at (208) 282-3372. This office is open from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. There will be no technical assistance available after hours, so please ensure you are set up and have tested your system before 5:00 PM on the day the course begins.
14. Where can I learn about Zoom?
Zoom.us