.png)
Up to 20 scholarships (valued at $1,200) are available for individuals who live OR work in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's or Talbot counties and want to be trained as a Community Health Worker. Interested persons should add their name to the interest list by emailing JRansome@esahec.org no later than Friday, September 1, 2023 The training program begins September 12th.
A Community Health Worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.
The Community Health Worker Training Program will be offered online in a virtual classroom setting through the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center. The CHW curriculum includes 100 hours of virtual (online) classroom instruction, and 40 hours of practicum. Individuals who successfully complete the accredited training program can apply for Certification through the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). The AHEC's competency-based training is Accredited through MDH and covers the 9 MDH core competencies:
Advocacy and community capacity building skills
Effective oral and written communication skills
Cultural competency
Understanding of ethics and confidentiality issues
Knowledge of local resources and system navigation
Care coordination support skills
Teaching skills to promote health behavior change
Outreach methods and strategies
Understanding of public health concepts and health literacy