Community Health Impact Program

Our program is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities in Boston and Greater Boston. We train Community Health Workers (CHWs) from diverse backgrounds to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, providing personalized health education and services. By integrating CHWs, we address disparities, enhance accessibility, and lower medical costs, aligning with national successes. CHWs promote early intervention, communication, and community acceptance, contributing to health equity. Asian Women for Health’s CHW Impact Program empowers Certified CHWs to advocate for inclusivity in healthcare and social services, tackling inequality and underemployment. Join us in making a difference in our communities.

Our program is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities in Boston and Greater Boston. We train Community Health Workers (CHWs) from diverse backgrounds to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, providing personalized health education and services. By integrating CHWs, we address disparities, enhance accessibility, and lower medical costs, aligning with national successes. CHWs promote early intervention, communication, and community acceptance, contributing to health equity. Asian Women for Health’s CHW Impact Program empowers Certified CHWs to advocate for inclusivity in healthcare and social services, tackling inequality and underemployment. Join us in making a difference in our communities.

infographic showing benefits of community health care

According to the American Public Health Association:

  • CHW is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served​​.
  • A CHW builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through various activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. CHWs play an important role in improving health by enhancing clinical outcomes.

CHWs are on the front line of addressing health inequities by addressing obstacles like language barriers, cultural stigmas, and a lack of health literacy or education to access vital and life-saving services. The CHW role taps into the lived experience and knowledge of their fellow community members to serve as the bridge between them and the institutions with resources to help them.

​Our FREE 10-week hybrid training program provides an opportunity for participants to enter the public health sector with support from CHW job training to placement assistance with our employer partners and guidance.

Healthcare Services • Social Services • Community Services

  • Case Work Aide
  • Community Care Coordinator
  • Community Health Advisor
  • Community Health Educator
  • Community Health Promoter
  • Community Health Representative
  • Community Health Worker
  • Community Outreach Worker
  • Environmental Health Aide
  • Family Service Worker
  • HIV Peer Counselor
  • Lactation Consultant/Specialist
  • Lay Health Advisor
  • Lead Abatement Education Specialist
  • Maternal/Infant Health Outreach Specialist
  • Neighborhood Health Advisor
  • Outreach Specialist
  • Patient Navigator
  • Peer Educator
  • Public Health Aide

Fall Program Information

March 11-May 13, 2025

Attendance Required on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Tuesdays 9:00AM -5:30 PM  in person @ ​50 Milk St., Boston, MA 02109
(Dates: 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13 + graduation)

The in-person CHW training will cover the Massachusetts 10 Core Competencies, including:​
  • Outreach Methods and Strategies
  • Individual and Community Assessment
  • Effective Communication
  • Culturally Responsive Care
  • Education to Promote Healthy Behavior Change
  • Care Coordination and System Navigation
  • Public Health Concepts and Approaches
  • Advocacy and Community Capacity Building
  • Documentation Skills
  • Professional Skills and Conduct

Thursdays 9:00AM -2:00PM
Virtual via Zoom
(Dates: 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24)

The virtual training will cover our Job Readiness curriculum including:

  • Self-Advocacy and Communication Skills
  • Workplace Ethic and Behavior
  • Networking and Career Development
  • Mock Interview Training
  • ​Creating Resume and Cover Letters
  • Job Application Process
  • One-on-One Case Manager​
  • Financial Literacy Workshops

Students are expected to complete:

  • (80) hours of the MA Board of Certification of CHW curriculum with our experienced training partners ​
  • (6) hours of job readiness curriculum accompanied by one-on-one training and support from our case manager
  • (6) hours of a self-paced online health literacy curriculum
  • (8) hours of financial literacy workshops

Salary Range Of Our Past Alumni: $23 to $37

  • $600 stipends are available to students upon completion of their training and upon signing their Community Health Worker job offer letters.
  • Job readiness training with one-on-one support with our Case Manager
  • Job placement assistance with our extensive network of healthcare providers and community partners in the Greater Boston area and beyond
  • Valuable CHW skills training that is in high demand for career advancement and transition
  • Guidance for students during their entire employment process and beyond.
  • Lunch provided during in-person training
  • Financial literacy workshops
  • Ongoing guidance throughout the employment process​
Community health worker training

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Over 18 years old
  • High school degree diploma or equivalent
  • Eligible to work full time in the United States
  • Proficient in English
  • ​Commitment to getting a full-time job in the field at the end of the program

Yes! We offer this training twice a year, in March and September. So please feel free to apply based on your schedule. We look forward to having you in the program!

We will offer health literacy classes that will prepare you with common medical terminologies and treatments in the healthcare field.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Community health workers typically do the following:

  • Coordinate care among individuals, communities, and health and social service systems
  • Conduct outreach, such as through home visits
  • Provide culturally appropriate health and informational resources
  • Oversee case management and resource access
  • Advocate for individuals and communities regarding housing, food security, and other needs
  • Provide coaching and social support, such as nutrition training, recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders, and chronic disease management and prevention
  • Provide services, such as basic health screenings and first aid
  • Increase individual and community participation in assessments and education to improve health and well-being ​

To read more, visit this link or see below for more resources:

 

Funding Acknowledgement

This project is funded by the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grant (Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund FY’21 Appropriation) through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, administered by the Commonwealth Corporation.

This project is also supported in part by the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds. ​