What is the North Bay Community Health Worker Training Program? 

The North Bay Community Health Worker Training Program (NBCHWTP) is a collaboration between Aliados Health, Northern California Center for Well Being, and Touro University California and made possible with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration. 

The NBCHWTP prepares community members for a career as a Community Health Worker, Promotor/a/e de salud, and other similar titles to serve their communities through the public health, social services, and/or healthcare sectors. This program provides the state recognized CHW certification. The course learning objectives are based on the nationally recognized Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Project.

The course is 80 hours, which includes 10 hours of field placement or a self-study project. The course is taught in a hybrid format, where most classes are held via Zoom with a few in-person meetings on the weekends. Aliados provides technical assistance support for people who are new to online learning.  

Our upcoming programs:

  • 80-hour CHW Core Competency Training Program
    • Fall 2024: CHW Core Competency Training Program taught in Spanish. Hybrid online and in person at Touro University California in Vallejo.
    • Winter 2025: CHW Core Competency Training program in English. Online only. Taught by Northern California Center for Well-Being.
  • If you would like to receive an email when we announce dates and open the applications for these programs, please contact Estela Venegas-Martinez using the contact form below.

Classes will be offered through Touro University in Vallejo and the Northern California Center for Well-Being in Santa Rosa.   

Benefits of Enrolling in the North Bay Community Health Worker Training Program 

  • Earn a California state recognized Certification as a Community Health Worker, which can open up additional job pathways. 
  • Learn key concepts and skills for the CHW role and learn more about the history of this profession. 
  • Opportunities for Registered Apprenticeships to gain hands on experience working as a Community Health Worker. 
  • Participate in CHW advanced training programs on various pressing issues such as: Substance and Opioid Use Disorders, Chronic Diseases, Lactation, Mental Health, and Community Vaccination Outreach. 
  • Participants who meet eligibility criteria will receive a stipend upon completion of 100% of the course and all assignments.   

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • A community health worker is an expert in their community. CHWs promote health and well-being in their community by supporting individuals and groups of people to have good quality, culturally relevant care, and access to resources. CHWs serve as a link between the community and healthcare and/or social service resources. 
  • This course is for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career as a Community Health Worker to advance health justice and support their communities.  We welcome people who are new to the field as well as those who have been working as a Community Health Worker, Promotor/a/e de salud, or similar title (such as Case Manager, Outreach Worker, Patient Navigator, etc.) and are looking for additional learning opportunities, connections with others in similar roles, and/or the state recognized CHW certification.  
  • This course is not intended for licensed medical providers or those with advanced degrees.  
  • We are looking for applicants who are from the communities they are passionate about working with.  
  • To receive the stipend for the course, participants are required to have a high school diploma or GED certificate and have legal status to work in the United States. Please contact us if you are interested in the course and are unsure if you meet the requirements.  
  • Participants who meet the legal status and educational requirements will receive a $1,750 stipend if they complete 100% of the coursework. Participants receive a $536 stipend for the upskill courses. The stipend is intended to help offset the costs of childcare, transportation, and other expenses incurred while taking the class.
  • This course will meet the requirements for the new California CHW Certification. We will assist participants in becoming certified CHWs upon completion of the course, when that certification becomes available. 
  • Additionally, those who complete the course will receive a micro credential from Touro University. A micro credential is a series of courses that culminate in a digital badge from an accredited university. They let employers and your professional network know that you have proficiency in a subject area. 
  • Currently, we are only offering this training in English. There may be an option for a class in Spanish in 2024 or 2025. If you prefer a course in another language, please contact us. 
  • The role and history of CHWs in the US/world 
  • Public health, Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health 
  • Promoting healthy eating and active living 
  • Trauma informed systems, cultural humility, and health care systems 
  • Initial client interviews 
  • Client centered counseling for behavior change 
  • Case management  
  • Stress management and self-care 
  • Guiding principles and Introduction to chronic disease management  
  • Outreach 
  • Group facilitation 
  • Community organizing and advocacy. 
  • And more! 

CHWs can work in wide variety of settings, some of which include:

  • Family resource centers 
  • Youth empowerment organizations 
  • WIC offices 
  • Racial and economic justice organizations 
  • Outreach to unhoused populations 
  • Violence prevention programs 
  • LGBTQIA+ organizations  
  • Community health centers 
  • Dental clinics 
  • Sexual and reproductive health centers 
  • Behavioral health services 
  • Private medical practices 
  • And more 
  • Provide information and connect with people at community outreach events. 
  • Provide culturally relevant health education on topics such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, reproductive health, vaccines. 
  • Support people in accessing healthcare.  
  • Helping people access resources such as food, housing, healthcare, childcare, support groups, and other services.  
  • Coaching– i.e. meeting people where they are and supporting them in setting goals. 
  • Community-based research and advocacy: for example, interviewing residents about pollution or about parks and presenting information to advocate for policy change.  
  • Community Health Workers are one of the fastest growing job sectors in the healthcare and social services fields. CHWs work in the areas of substance abuse recovery, chronic disease prevention, homelessness outreach, reentry from prison, chronic disease prevention, food access, behavioral health, and so much more.  
  • CHWs work under a wide range of titles including: Patient Navigator, Outreach Worker, Health Ambassador, Peer Counselor, Case Manager.  
  • Some organizations are now able to bill Medi-cal for CHWs, which has expanded job opportunities.  
  • Many organizations are looking for CHWs who are certified.  
  • The North Bay CHW Training Program offers an optional Apprenticeship program. After the core course has been completed, people who have graduated from the class can apply for Apprenticeship positions where they will receive paid on-the-job training as a CHW. Many of these Apprenticeship positions lead to long-term jobs.  
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for a Community Health Worker in California is $24/hour.  

To request an application form or to ask for more information, please use the form below to contact Estela Venegas-Martinez.

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