Program Coverage
Medi-Cal covers community health worker (CHW) services, pursuant to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 440.130(c), as preventive services and on the written recommendation of a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts within their scope of practice under state law. CHW services may address issues that include, but are not limited to, the control and prevention of chronic conditions or infectious diseases mental health conditions and substance use disorders need for preventive services, perinatal health conditions sexual and reproductive health environmental and climate-sensitive health issues child health and development oral health aging injury domestic violence and violence prevention.
Definition
Community health worker (CHW) services are preventive health services to prevent disease, disability, and other health conditions or their progression to prolong life and promote physical and mental health. Community health workers may include individuals known by a variety of job titles, including community health representatives, navigators, and other non-licensed public health workers, including violence prevention professionals, with the qualifications specified below.
Community Health Worker (CHW) 10-Day / 80 Hour Training Program
Our comprehensive 10-day Community Health Worker Training Program prepares participants with the essential skills to serve, support, and advocate for their communities. Through interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and reflective learning, trainees build a strong foundation in cultural competency, health education, care coordination, advocacy, community engagement, and research-informed practice.
Each day is designed to deepen core capacities and confidence in the CHW role:
Day 1 - Foundations of CHW Role & Scope Participants explore the historical roots and core identity of CHWs. Training provides a clear delineation of scope of practice (Medi-Cal policy), distinguishing nonclinical support from clinical tasks. Key Skills: Active listening and cultural connection.
Day 2 - Cultural Humility & Health Literacy
Trainees strengthen their ability to communicate health information clearly, respectfully, and without jargon. Focus on identifying systemic health literacy barriers, applying CLAS Standards, and using the Teach-Back Method for culturally responsive health education.
Day 3 - Care Coordination & System Navigation Participants learn to guide individuals through complex health and social service systems. Focus on identifying and problem-solving common barriers (transportation, fear, language). Training clarifies the CHW role in nonclinical care coordination versus licensed case management.
Day 4 - Motivational Interviewing & Coaching CHWs develop practical skills for guiding behavior change using Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles. Focus on the OARS micro-skills (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries) and strength-based coaching to support client self-management.
Day 5 - Professional Ethics, Boundaries, & Self-Care
Focus on establishing professional boundaries (accepting gifts, dual relationships) and core ethical principles (confidentiality, autonomy). Training addresses secondary trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue, framing self-care as an ethical mandate for longevity.
Day 6 - Documentation, Safety, & Mandated Reporting
Participants learn objective, factual documentation skills for service notes (FANC). Training covers protocols for Mandated Reporting (abuse/neglect) and essential field safety practices, including trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
Day 7 - Community Health Assessment & Outreach Trainees conduct mock community assessments, moving beyond individual deficits to identify community assets and systemic needs. Focus on effective outreach strategies that build trust and mobilize community members for action.
Day 8 - Team Integration & Reflective Supervision
Emphasis on effective collaboration within interdisciplinary teams (nurses, social workers) and practicing warm hand-offs. Training covers the purpose and use of reflective supervision to process emotional challenges and navigate ethical dilemmas.
Day 9 - Policy, Systems Advocacy, & Evaluation The cohort explores strategies to engage in systems advocacy to remove policy barriers. Training covers how the CHW serves as a cultural broker for policy-makers and how to support community-based evaluation to drive meaningful systems change.
Day 10 - Professional Readiness & Graduation
The program concludes with a synthesis of learning, a final skills assessment, and guidance on professional development (e.g., certification, portfolio building). The day culminates in a celebration and certificate recognition ceremony.
This training equips participants to become effective, culturally responsive, and community-centered CHWs ready to make a lasting impact.
