Certificate of Achievement
Community Health Care Worker Certificate
The Community Health Care Worker Certificate of Achievement consists of multi-disciplinary coursework to prepare individuals to work within the social service, public health, or health care workforce as Community Health Workers. This certificate program is designed to provide training in front-line public health care with an understanding of and connection to the communities served. It also provides training in facilitating patient access to health and social services to improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. Students will develop the skills to provide culturally appropriate health education and information, assist people in receiving the care they need, give informal counseling and guidance on health behaviors, and advocate for individuals and community health needs.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2026
Certificate Requirements
| Course Code |
Course Title |
Units |
| AH 106 |
Communication for Allied Health Careers |
2 |
| AH 301 |
Health Care in a Multicultural Society |
3 |
| CHW 101 |
Introduction to Community Health Work |
1.5 |
| CHW 103 |
U.S. Healthcare Systems and Third Party Payers |
2 |
| CHW 105 |
Community Health Resources |
2 |
| CHW 121 |
Social Determinants of Health |
2 |
| CHW 123 |
Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions |
2 |
| SOC 375 |
Introduction to Community Building and Change Making (3) |
3 |
| or CSP 302 |
Introduction to Community Building and Change Making (3) |
|
| SOC 382 |
Introduction to Casework in Social Services (3) |
3 |
| or CSP 301 |
Introduction to Casework in Social Services (3) |
|
| A minimum of 3 units from the following: |
3 |
| SOC 385 |
Practicum in Sociology, Community Studies, and Community Health Work (2 - 4) |
|
| or CSP 305 |
Practicum in Sociology, Community Studies, and Community Health Work (2 - 4) |
|
| Total Units: |
|
23.5 |
Enrollment Process
Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:
- Complete the online application.
- In the event there are more applicants than spaces available, students who meet the enrollment eligibility requirements will be entered into a random selection pool.
- Through the random selection process, applicants are assigned a number. The first thirty applicants are offered enrollment into the program. The remaining applicants are alternates and will be notified in numerical order if and when seats become available.
- Students must reapply each year. Students who have submitted complete and qualified applications in prior sequential years will receive entries in the random selection equal to the number of years they have applied.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- clarify roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice of Community Health Workers.
- investigate complex service delivery systems within the U.S. healthcare system and key legal responsibilities within the context of health service delivery systems.
- use accepted terminology to describe findings, patterns, habits, and behaviors that prevent the development and progression of common physical, mental and behavioral conditions and recommend strategies that reduce high-utilization of unnecessary healthcare services.
- demonstrate the ability to accurately report and document client assessments, interventions, changes in status, and outcomes in the written and electronic medical record (EMR).
- utilize a variety of outreach methods with individuals, groups, organizations and the community to engage with and help them learn about and use resources to improve their health and well-being.
- identify conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.
- evaluate and inventory available community resources, including health and social services.
- demonstrate knowledge and proficiency with technology, including web-based applications, productivity software suite or package and electronic health record systems.
- communicate effectively and purposefully with clients, community members, colleagues and other professionals as demonstrated by listening carefully and communicating respectfully.
- demonstrate the ability to advocate and build capacity for individual and community health.
- incorporate professional and ethical boundaries, conflict resolution, self-care, time management, and skills for providing and receiving constructive feedback to assist in working within a professional setting.
- collect and synthesize information in order to understand the needs, strengths, and resources of the individuals and communities that Community Health Workers serve.
- utilize information collected to help plan and carry out effective programs, services and advocacy for individuals and communities.
- provide culturally competent care by applying knowledge of cultural beliefs, values, customs and social behavior shared by different groups of people with a common identity.
- educate and promote healthy behavior change by providing people with information, tools and encouragement.
- understand how to bridge cultural, linguistic, knowledge and literacy differences among individuals, families, communities and providers in order to tell them how to use the services of health providers and other service organizations.
- assess, analyze, and apply sociological and community development theory, research methods and practice.
Career Information
Common job titles for Community Health Care Workers include: patient/health navigator, case manager/case worker, health educator, community health educator, community outreach worker, and enrollment specialist. Community Health Care Workers (CHWs) serve as liaisons/intermediaries between health and social services and the community to promote, maintain and improve individual and community access to health care services; assist individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors; and improve the quality and cultural competence of services delivered. Common tasks/responsibilities include: facilitating access to health services (scheduling appointments, completing provider forms, scheduling transportation); conducting outreach to community members; and providing community and health education.
Community Healthcare Worker (CHW) Courses
CHW 101 Introduction to Community Health Work
- Units:1.5
- Hours:27 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGL C1000 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better; and LIBR 318 with grades of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course is designed to introduce students to the broad perspective of community health work by applying different concepts with emphasis on health promotion and primary health care. The course will examine different health promotion and disease prevention strategies that are used as primary health and population-based methods. Public health, home health care settings, and clinic/hospital-based services will be addressed. Emphasis is placed on family-wellness and illness in various community settings using examples of various communities and cultural settings throughout California. Aspects of community health are explored based on a demographic and epidemiological approach as well as building an environmental awareness and acquiring problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This course was formerly known as AH 101.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- define the role and practice of a community health worker.
- identify findings, patterns, habits, and behaviors that prevent the development and progression of common diseases/disorders and reduce utilization of unnecessary healthcare services.
- explain the different health concerns across a person’s lifespan.
- demonstrate how to conduct home visitations to monitor health needs and reinforce treatment regimens.
- identify accepted terminology to describe findings, patterns, habits, and behaviors of clients.
- identify self-care practices and self-improvement goals.
CHW 103 U.S. Healthcare Systems and Third Party Payers
- Units:2
- Hours:36 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGL C1000 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better; and TELA 300 with grades of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
The United States healthcare system is complex, organized by systems and programs by which health services are made available to the population and financed by government entities, private enterprises, or both. Various systems work on different aspects of providing care throughout the spectrum of health. This course provides an overview of the United States healthcare system as it has developed during the past century. Students are expected to achieve a basic understanding of the building blocks in anticipation of future careers and employment in the healthcare industry of the United States. This course was formerly known as AH 103.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- explain the major components of the current and potential healthcare delivery systems in the United States.
- describe the aspects of the “Triple Aim” of the U.S. healthcare system.
- compare and contrast aspects of the U.S. healthcare system to those of other countries.
- anticipate the interaction of healthcare providers and diverse patients and families with the various components of the U.S. healthcare system.
- describe the theories and models of leadership and management most effective in the current and potential U.S. healthcare systems.
- discuss the impact of selected cultures on the ability of healthcare providers and the U.S. healthcare system to meet the healthcare needs of patients, families and communities.
- describe the communication styles of the primary U.S. healthcare providers, e.g., administrators, financial officers, managers, physicians, nurses, and patients from low, moderate and high socioeconomic status.
- identify entry points into the various U.S. healthcare delivery systems.
CHW 105 Community Health Resources
- Units:2
- Hours:36 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:CISC 300, LIBR 307, and TELA 300 with grades of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course is designed to introduce students to the broad perspective of community health resources in the Greater Sacramento service area. Through various lectures from representatives of area organizations, students will gather community resources to assist clients with addressing their health needs. This course was formerly known as AH 105.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- compile a database of community resources.
- identify the available community resources in the Greater Sacramento service area, including health and social services.
- apply accepted terminology to describe findings, patterns, habits, and behaviors of clients.
- communicate with community partners and medical personnel.
- demonstrate proficiency with technology, including web-based applications, MS Office, and electronic health record systems.
CHW 121 Social Determinants of Health
- Units:2
- Hours:36 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGL C1000 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better; and TELA 300 with grades of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These factors can all have an impact on health. This course will help students understand health inequalities and how they are socially driven. Students will look at how health is affected by wider determinants and how they can make a difference as health professionals to close the health inequality gap. Through a range of case studies from high to low income countries, the student will gain a better understanding of social determinants of health, why health inequalities exist, and the role of health professionals and systems in reducing health inequality. This course was formerly known as AH 121.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the models of disease causation theories.
- describe conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems that shape the conditions of daily life and health.
- identify economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies, and political systems that have an impact on social determinants of health.
- describe key policies and programs in the United States aimed at improving health.
- conduct community needs assessments using data collection methods.
CHW 123 Prevention and Management of Chronic Conditions
- Units:2
- Hours:36 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Acceptance into the Community Health Worker program.
- Advisory:ENGL C1000 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better; and TELA 300 with grades of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
Chronic diseases are on the rise in the United States, leaving healthcare payers with the challenge of covering care for patients with these expensive, long-term conditions. In this course, students will learn about the most common chronic diseases, their etiology, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment. Students will learn about community preventive services, programs, and other interventions aimed at supporting patients in the successful self-management of chronic conditions. Students will also be introduced to medical terminology with an overview of the structure of medical language and basic terms. This course was formerly known as AH 123.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- define chronic conditions and factors that contribute to chronic conditions.
- locate acceptable online resources for information on chronic conditions including causes, data, prevention and management.
- explain the structure of medical language and introductory terms.
- identify and describe the most common chronic conditions in the U.S. including the causes, symptoms, and treatments for each of them.
- compare and contrast the medical and the public health treatment models of chronic conditions, and ways to integrate medical and public health models.
- describe the concept of patient self-management of chronic conditions and the application of client-centered concepts and skills to patients.
CHW 299 Experimental Offering in Community Healthcare Worker
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
CHW 499 Experimental Offering in Community Healthcare Worker
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
