Community Health Programs
The Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Academy provides the knowledge and skills necessary to build and strengthen Community Health Workers.
CHWs, especially in Idaho, play an important role as a bridge between traditionally under-served populations and needed health information; support and care; as well as basic and social services. Program participants gain professional skills through the Core, Advanced, Apprentice and Supervisor training programs. Specific health topic add-on modules are also available to enhance the fundamental training.
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Categories
Modules
For a limited time, Idaho State University is offering free access to over 30+ Health Specific Modules. The limited time, free access is made possible by a grant from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The HSM’s are offered in an asynchronous format and a student will have 2 weeks to complete the module after beginning it. Take one or all 30+ modules! The HSM’s are offered in an asynchronous format and a student will have 2 weeks to complete the module after beginning it. Community health workers are a vital bridge between traditionally underserved populations and provide needed health information; support and care; as well as basic and social services. Learn more about the Community Health Worker Course HERE.
Course Catalog
Community Health Worker Advanced Course (CHW Advanced)
The Community Health Worker Advanced course expands student's knowledge and skills and offers experiential learning through community or clinical tracks with a rotation at a preceptor site. This course must be taken after The Community Health Worker Core Course has been completed. The 13-week core course consists of 48 hours of blended, live-online and asynchronous training, and 48 Clinical hours. CHW Advanced courses are offered in a hybrid online web-based classroom. The class will meet in live online classroom three times during the thirteen weeks; evenings, 6pm-9pm—on the first night of class, with the remaining 2 sessions announced during the first class. Weeks 2-6, 8-12, students will be working asynchronous (self-paced) and will also be required to choose from 25+ available asynchronous Health Specific Modules and must complete five new modules by end of class. This course will also consist of 48 clinical hours that can run simultaneously. Prerequisite: Students should have completed the CHW Core course before the Advanced class begins. Some sessions of this course will require an access code for registration. Please visit the ISU Community Health Worker Training Academy for more information, or email chw@isu.edu. Community health workers are a vital component of the state and national public health and health care workforce. "Community Health Worker" is an umbrella term for a number of different job titles, including community health advocates, outreach educators, peer leaders, promotores de salud, doulas, and patient navigators. For many decades, CHWs have made significant contributions to community-based health promotion, disease prevention and maternal child health support. They have also improved the rate of health insurance coverage for underserved communities and individuals. CHWs improve access to and increase utilization of primary health care, reduce costs of care, improve quality of care, and reduce health disparities. For more information about this training curriculum, contact the Department of Community and Public Health at Idaho State University, chw@isu.edu or call (208) 282-2729 or visit the website at: isu.edu/chw/ Idaho State University, in collaboration with the Idaho Statewide Healthcare Innovation Plan (SHIP) project originally developed this training. ISU is continuing to offer this training for those interested in becoming Community Health Workers. Interested applicants are not required to apply and become students at ISU in order to take the training.
Community Health Worker (CHW) - Mini-Learning Collaboratives
Mini-Learning Collaboratives (MLC) are a platform for community health workers (CHWs) to network with other CHWs across the state and in their community and learn or refine skills around topics relevant to CHWs. These quarterly meetings are held virtually online via Zoom and range in duration from 1 ½ to 2 hours. MLCs are offered at no cost to the participants and are open to CHWs and their team.
Advanced Care Planning (HSM)
This community health module will focus on Advanced Care Planning (ACP) related to history, parts of the Advanced Directive, types of interventions individuals can use at the end of life and explore how we can help ourselves and others in completing these important forms. As a Community Health Worker, it is important to understand the history of how these forms were created, how they are used in Idaho, and how to give general directions to individuals so people can access support in completing these forms and getting optimal care for their end-of-life planning. Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (HSM)
This course will focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia. As a Community Health Worker, it is important to understand some of the risk factors your patients may have and address the barriers that your patients face. Students will apply knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia to successfully navigate patients through the healthcare system. Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.
Asthma (HSM)
Asthma is a lung disease that makes breathing difficult for millions of Americans. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed and treated so the children and adults affected can live a normal, healthy life, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease that can be serious, even life-threatening. The more your clients learn about asthma, the better they and their loved ones can manage living with the disease. Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.
Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse (HSM)
The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of behavioral health as a public health professional who promotes full and equal access to necessary health and social services by applying his or her unique understanding of the experiences, language, and culture of the communities he or she serves. Through this training module, students will be able to apply knowledge of Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse in order to successfully navigate patients throughout the healthcare system. Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.
Blood Pressure and Hypertension (HSM)
The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of blood pressure and hypertension. As a community health worker, it’s important to understand the risk factors your clients may have for hypertension and address the barriers they may face in managing their condition for better health. You will learn about the complications of hypertension, which include heart disease (the leading cause of death in the United States and in Idaho), stroke (the fourth leading cause of death in Idaho) and kidney failure. You’ll also learn about screening and treatment, as well as lifestyle changes your clients can make to monitor and control high blood pressure. And, you’ll be equipped to raise awareness in your community about the dangers of undiagnosed hypertension and the benefits of treating high blood pressure to reduce the risk of stroke, heart failure and kidney damage. Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.
Breast Health and Cancer Screening (HSM)
The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of breast health and cancer screening as a public health professional who promotes full and equal access to necessary health and social services by applying his or her unique understanding of the experiences, language, and culture of the communities he or she serves. Through this training module, students will be able to apply knowledge of Breast Health and Cancer Screening in order to successfully navigate patients throughout the healthcare system. Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.
COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (HSM)
This course will focus on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). As a Community Health Worker, it is important to understand some of the risk factors your patients may have and address the barriers that your patients face. COPD is the most preventable and expensive disease in America today. Over 480,0001 people die each year from smoking related disease, which includes COPD, cancer, heart and cardiovascular disease. As a CHW you will be instrumental in improving the health and lifestyle of your patients. Reminder: Students are encouraged to complete this module within two weeks. HSM access is for six months. A Certificate of Completion can be printed after successful completion of the course.