AHL 258 - Expanded Concepts of Community Health

8 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This course is designed to provide students instruction in community health worker core competency areas. Topics to be covered include advocacy and community capacity building skills, effective oral and written communication skills, cultural competency/anti-oppressive practice, knowledge of local resources and system navigation, care coordination support skills, teaching skills to promote healthy behavior change, outreach methods and strategies, and understanding of public health concepts and health literacy. In addition, successful completion of this course will prepare the student for certification as a Community Health Worker (CHW) in the state of Maryland.

Course Objectives:

1. define client-centered counseling and a strengths-based approach;

2. understand stages of change theory and demonstrate key techniques for motivational interviewing;

3. identify and demonstrate community outreach strategies;

4. explain the goals of the public health field and the models applied in public health;

5. define health inequities and understand the role CHWs play in mitigating their impact;

6. define care coordination and identify the key role CHWs play in providing this service;

7. explain the CHW role in community organizing and advocacy; and

8. discuss the role that incarceration, chronic disease, and trauma has on individual and community health.