Community Health Worker Certificate

CIP: 51.1504
School of Sciences, Health, Engineering and Math 505-428-1323

This two-semester program prepares students to enter the health care profession as an entry-level community health worker (CHW). CHWs are also known as community health representatives (CHRs), home visitors, patient navigators or patient service representatives (PSRs). They function as patient advocates and educators in homes in the community, clinics, hospitals and managed care organizations (MCOs). This certificate program includes the 11 established competencies required for state certification. These competencies are: the CHW profession, effective communication skills, interpersonal skills, health coaching skills, service coordination skills, capacity building skills, advocacy skills, technical teaching skills, community health outreach skills, community knowledge and assessment, and clinical support skills. Students are trained to have a basic understanding of medical terminology as well as knowledge regarding maternal-child health issues, chronic disease and illness. Program completion enables students to qualify for the New Mexico state certification for CHWs.