Contact Us Eastern MT Area Health Education Center (AHEC) AEGD - Dental Residency Montana Family Medicine Residency Medical Student Rotations Eastern MT Area Health Education Center (AHEC) AHEC K-12 Students Dementia training AHEC Job Shadowing Community Health Improvement Internship (Healthy By Design Coalition) X-Ray training HPV Education Community Health Worker Training Health Courses & Trainings Behavioral Health Training HomeMedical Residency & EducationEastern MT Area Health Education Center (AHEC)Community Health Worker Training Community Health Worker Training What is a Community Health Worker? The American Public Health Association (APHA) defines a CHW as “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 CHW 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. The CHW 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.”[i] Why train Community Health Workers? The roles of Community Health Workers are tailored to the communities that they serve. Generally, CHWs promote access to services, provide health education, support care delivery, and promote advocacy. Since CHWs are typically community members, they have strong community connections and greater opportunities to build relationships and extend the reach of healthcare services. Research consistently demonstrates that CHWs increase care outcomes and quality of care in rural populations. The training and retention of CHWs is essential for improving healthcare for rural Montanans. About the training The Montana Community Health Worker (CHW) Fundamentals training provides the knowledge and skills necessary to become a Community Health Worker. The instructor-guided curriculum takes approximately seven weeks (85 hours) to complete and consists of four 15-hour Learning Modules and a 25-hour on-the-job Supervised Experience taken at the completion of the four Modules. Each Module contains written content, videos, application activities, case studies and reflective journaling. An individual will gain skills in the following areas: professional skills & conduct; communication; self-care; interpersonal relationships; outreach, navigation & coordination; organization; advocacy; capacity building & teaching. The CHW training is facilitated by an instructor and provides a certificate upon completion. *A trainee must be sponsored by an employer prior to beginning the training, as the 25-hour Supervised Experience is required to complete the course. Employer information An employer must formally sponsor a trainee prior to the start of the training. It is vital that the employer has the resources necessary for the trainee to meet the Supervised Experience required activities. The CHW “Manual for Supervised Experience” is available for sponsoring Facilities/Agencies, Instructors, and Preceptors. Scholarships to cover the cost of the training are available through the BHWET grant funded by HRSA. The host facility will pay the participant’s training cost upfront and then would be reimbursed upon the participant’s completion of the training. Prerequisites A high school diploma or GED is preferred All trainees must be sponsored by an employer, as 25 hours of supervised experience are required to complete the training. If needed, completion of a Computer Literacy Assessment & Training. Employers may have additional requirements (talk to your employer). What is the cost of the training? The cost of the training is $2,000 per participant. Training fees are due at enrollment. Scholarships to cover the training cost are available upon successful completion of the training. About the instructor Heidi Blossom, MSN, RN, worked in developing the Community Health Worker training program. Ms. Blossom has taught as an adjunct Professor of Nursing at Carroll College, in Helena, Montana, and has developed curriculum for nursing students as well as education majors. She collaborated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program to develop a guide for Community Health Workers, “Building a Community Health Worker Program.” She holds a BA in Nursing from Carroll College, Helena, MT, and an MSN from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, in Nursing Education. Link to State AHEC CHW web-page: https://healthinfo.montana.edu/bhwet/chw/index.html Link to March 15th, 2021 Behavioral Health Training Registration https://www.cognitoforms.com/MontanaOfficeOfRuralHealthAreaHealthEducationCenter/BehavioralHealthTrainingRegistrationForm31521CHW [i] American Public Health Association Policy Statement 2009-1, November 2009 To register for general information, please fill out the form found here. OUR ORGANIZATION Welcome Mission, Vision & Values About Us Board of Health Our History News and Media Foundation Human Resources Organizational Innovation Leadership Team Contact Us CLINICAL SERVICES About Our Clinics Clinic Locations Live Well Center Behavioral Health Ryan White Services Dental Clinic Pharmacy Healthcare for the Homeless Immunization Clinic WIC Clinic Financial Assistance HOME CARE SERVICES Our Team Frequently Asked Questions Bill of Rights Contact Us HOSPICE SERVICES Our Team Frequently Asked Questions Bill of Rights Advanced Directives Hospice Home Volunteers Contact Us INSPECTIONS & PERMITS Restaurant Inspection Reports Restaurants & Food Service Septic Permits & Subdivision Review Tattooing and Piercing Pools & Spas Hotels & Motels Child Care Centers & Group Homes Trailer Courts & Campgrounds Burn Permits PUBLIC HEALTH & PREVENTING DISEASE Immunizations Cancer Prevention Suicide Prevention Tobacco Use Prevention Communicable Disease Prevention STD/HIV Prevention Emergency Preparedness Air Quality Healthy By Design MEDICAL RESIDENCY & EDUCATION Montana Family Medicine Residency Medical Student Rotations Eastern MT Area Health Education Center (AHEC) HEALTHY FAMILIES Centering Pregnancy Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nurse Family Partnership Parents As Teachers Maternal Child Health School Nursing Services Healthy Homes HOME CAREERS DIRECTORY PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE EMPLOYEE LINKS ©2021 RiverStone Health Main Campus: 123 South 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101 Website by Webgrain