Community Health Worker Training Program
About
Better Health Together (BHT) was selected to receive a Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Community Health Worker training grant in 2022. The purpose of this grant is to support the expansion of the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce in Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties.
Equity and our commitment to being an anti-racist health organization drives our vision for an integrated and accountable health system for all and our mission to radically improve the health of our Eastern Washington region. We strive for health equity - where organizations support every individual in achieving their full health potential regardless of identity, environment, or lived experience.
We offer these training opportunities to help support the growing CHW workforce and to acknowledge that the work they do is necessary to achieve our mission. BHT strives to create spaces that are safe and foster an environment for learning and taking accountability. We extend this responsibility to all who participate in our programs and are involved in community work.
Health Equity
To promote health equity in our region, we will be prioritizing enrolling program participants that are a part of the impacted communities. BHT uses the term impacted communities to
refer broadly to all groups that have been impacted by systems of oppression, such as Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA2S+, currently or formerly houseless, have accessibility needs (disability or non-apparent disabilities) justice-involved, low-income, refugee or immigrant people, and more groups that face systemic inequity.
Community Health Worker Workforce
The Washington State CHW Task Force defines a Community Health Worker (CHW) as: “A frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has a close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship allows the CHW to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.”
CHWs act as outreach workers or patient navigators who can facilitate individuals’ connection to care, facilitate patient follow-up, complete medical insurance applications, address food insecurity, transportation and housing issues, health literacy, and providing informal counseling and emotional support.
New Community Health Workers
The training for new CHWs consists of a 10-week CHW Core Competency Course provided by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and (3) additional courses supplemented by BHT. Participants will acquire core competencies for CHWs regarding public health and health services that follow state, local, and federal guidelines. The courses are provided quarterly and can be done online, self-paced. Please contact Kim Wilson (kim.wilson@betterhealthtogether.org) for additional information or to answer questions.
Existing Community Health Workers
Eligible participants are those who are existing or current Community Health Workers. They have completed the Washington State Department of Health CHW Core Competence course prior to applying for the program. Those who are interested in applying for this opportunity will meet with a BHT coordinator to develop an individualized training plan.
2024 CHW Training Schedule:
1st Quarter - January 8 – March 15
2nd Quarter - April 3 – June 14
3rd Quarter - July 10 – September 20
4th Quarter - September 26 – December 6
More information about the CHW Core Competency Training can be found here.
Financial Support
Participants of the training program can receive up to $7,500 to cover expenses related to the successful completion of training. These expenses include transportation, technology, supplies, child care, etc.
Application Process
Applications are reviewed by a panel of CHWs, employers, and others to determine those that move forward into an interview. There are a limited number of training seats available per quarter, so the panel wants to get to know you beyond the standard application. This is a strengths-based interview with no wrong answers. You come as you are! These interviews are scheduled virtually and last approximately 45 minutes. The selection process can take up to two weeks. All applicants receive continuous, regular communication on their status and steps in the process.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
There are at least (3) in-person sessions with the BHT CHW Training team that are required during the course of the training program. These sessions are:
Program Intake Session
Orientation Session
Last Day Session
Others to be determined by the Training Coordinator
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3,000,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
