Training Materials for Community Health Worker Programs

Many programs have developed training materials to help community health workers (CHWs) learn and develop the skills necessary to serve populations of interest. Trainings are often shorter and address fewer topics than curriculums. Effective CHW training is multi-layered — addressing core skills, special topics, and ongoing support.

Trainings for ongoing support and continuing education can help CHWs learn about health topics, practice new and previously learned skills, support professional development, assist CHWs in overcoming challenges, and help CHWs adhere to program protocols and procedures. Some states may require legal and ethical training regarding CHW activities, and training designed to help CHWs understand the liabilities associated with their duties.

To develop training materials, rural programs have adapted content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), federal and state agencies, and academic institutions. Training materials should be consistent with program goals and expectations of CHWs. The Community Health Workers in Rural Settings topic guide provides a list of common components of CHW training materials.

CHW trainings may involve interactive components, team-based exercises, practice time for new skills learned, experiential or on-the-job learning, shadowing, and/or mentoring. CHWs may also receive educational materials during trainings. CHWs can distribute these materials to community members and use them to educate community members about available resources. Examples of educational materials for distribution include manuals, pamphlets, infographics, brochures, flyers, posters, stickers, yard signs, and more.

Examples of training materials used by rural CHW programs include:

• The California State Office of Rural Health and the California Department of Public Health's Office of Binational Border Health partnered to implement a training curriculum funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide education and tools to CHWs about exposure to pesticides. After the training, CHWs delivered information and resources to migrant, seasonal, and agricultural workers in the community.
• ASPIN's Certified Recovery Specialist Program offers e-learning for CHWs. The program trains CHWs in navigating insurance enrollment, delivering mental health services, and managing chronic conditions.
• MHP Salud is a national, nonprofit organization that implements a variety of CHW programs and supports training for various CHW models. Trainings can be implemented virtually or onsite and address a range of topics, depending on community needs. MHP Salud programs address health topics such as family nutrition, older adults, and children and youth.

When possible, programs should evaluate CHW trainings to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the training. This can include assessing the skills and knowledge at baseline and after training, as well as participant satisfaction with the training. Evaluation can also ensure that a training meets the needs of CHWs, in terms of structure, content, and design, and account for any barriers they may experience with accessing trainings, such as financial or educational barriers.

Resources to Learn More

Community Health Worker Academy
Website
Offers a comprehensive community health worker (CHW) training program based on the core roles and competencies of CHWs as initially identified by the National Community Health Advisor Study. This program is routinely updated to demonstrate the current best practices in CHW training.
Organization(s): Institute for Public Health Innovation

Community Health Worker Toolkit
Website
Provides a variety of resources related to training CHWs including a toolkit manual, a template to document encounters with community members, and instructions on using a flipchart for educational instruction.
Organization(s): NYU-CUNY Prevention Research Center

Resources for Community Health Workers
Website
A compilation of community health worker (CHW) program resources providing information and training to support their work. Topics address CHW programs in areas of asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infectious disease, injury prevention, obesity, and physical activity.
Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention