Community Health Education Center
Community Health Workers play a key role in the health and well-being of Boston’s diverse residents. The Community Health Education Center is a training and professional development center. We train Community Health Workers in providing outreach and health education to Boston's diverse communities.
We offer standardized trainings for Community Health Workers. Our nationally recognized trainings set the standard in Massachusetts. Our training programs prepare you to serve in a variety of functions. Our programs cover:
- culturally appropriate health education and outreach
- navigating the health and human service systems
- assuring access to services
- advocating for individual and community needs
- building individual and community capacity
Community Health Workers and other health experts design our training programs. Our advisory group fine-tunes all programs to ensure they meet your needs. Through our programs, you have the opportunity to connect with front-line health workers across Boston. Learn more about our training programs, workshops, and seminars below.
Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate Program
This is a two-part, 80-hour training program. The program covers core competencies Community Health Workers need to provide effective community outreach and health education work in community-based settings.
Requirements to Participate:
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You must be an active Community Health Worker.
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Participation in this program must be sponsored by an organization.
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The program cost is $650 per student. This must be paid by your organization.
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You must commit to at least 20 hours of volunteer work per week with your organization.
Learn more about the Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate.
Read our Program Policy.
Registration is now open for Spring 2025. If interested, please complete both forms below. The deadline to register for Spring 2025 is April 1, 2025.
College CreditThe following local colleges award three college credits upon certificate completion:
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Bunker Hill Community College
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MassBay Community College
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Cambridge College
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Lesley College
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Springfield College
These sessions focus on core outreach skills and strategies needed for effective community outreach and health education practice as outlined by the Massachusetts Board of Certification of Community Health Workers. Sessions include:
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COEC Orientation
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Public Health Concepts & Approaches
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Professional Skills
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Effective Communication
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Outreach & Education
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Individual & Community Assessments
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Cultural Responsiveness
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Community Organizing
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Care Coordination & Systems Navigation
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Behavior Change
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Documentation
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Capacity Building & Leadership
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COEC Core Competencies Overview/Closeout
These sessions focus on a variety of health issues impacting our communities. Most focus on public health facts and local referral resources. This will help you provide health information and referrals on a broad range of issues.
Community Health Workers may enroll in Health Modules without enrolling in the certificate program.
As part of the certificate program, you must take at least 9 hours of Health Modules from the following list:
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Adolescent Health
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Asthma
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Breast Cancer
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Childhood Health
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Chronic Disease
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CPR
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Diabetes Prevention
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Domestic Violence
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Elder Health
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Family Planning / Contraceptive Methods
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Healthy Eating
- Hepatitis
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HIV/AIDS
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Human Sexuality
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LGBTQ+ Health Issues
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Mental Health
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Parenting Skills
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Promoting Community Preparedness
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Prostate Health
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Sexually Transmitted Infections
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Substance Abuse
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Women and HIV
What is a Community Health Worker?
A Community Health Worker is a public health worker who applies his or her unique understanding of the experience, language and culture of the populations he or she serves in order to carry out one or more of the following roles:
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Provide culturally appropriate health education, information and outreach in community-based settings such as homes, schools, hospitals, clinics, shelters, local businesses and community centers.
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Bridge or culturally mediate between individuals, families, communities and Health and Human Services, including actively building individual and community capacity.
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Assure that community members access the Health and Human Services they need.
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Provide direct services, such as informal counseling on access to Health and Human Services, social support, care coordination and health screenings.
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Advocate for individual, family and community needs pertaining to access to Health and Human Services.
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Additional roles as may be identified by the Board that may emerge in the development of Community Health Worker practice.
Connect With Us
There are more than 2,000 Community Health Workers in our network. We host a monthly gathering where Community Health Workers can share outreach strategies, network with other CHWs, and learn about client services and resources.
Sign up for our newsletter to view our training calendar check out upcoming events.
About the Community Health Education Center
About UsOur purpose is to design, develop, and deliver impactful, equitable, and inclusive learning opportunities for the public health workforce community. Our goal is to inspire and promote personal growth and career advancement to address the public health challenges of our time.
We aim to establish community outreach and health education work as a valued practice within public health. We aim to provide education, training programs, and professional development and opportunities. We support the creation and advancement of national and state standards.
The following core principles guide our programs:
- Validate the strategic role of community health workers. Community Health Workers play a strategic role in building healthier communities and eliminating health disparities. As members of the communities they serve, they have a first-hand understanding of the complexity and scope of health equity.
- Build on Community Health Workers' knowledge and skills. We draw on Community Health Workers diverse experiences to increase their knowledge of health topics, strengthen their job skills, and promote culturally-appropriate methods of service and delivery in the community and especially to underserved populations.
- Use methods appropriate for adult learners. An adult learner approach prepares Community Health Workers for real-world situations, clients, and experiences. This approach reinforces that Community Health Workers are active, visible role models in their communities. They guide community members to positive, healthier lives and improve their own skills and capacity for learning.
- Engage Community Health Workers in all aspects of our program. We include Community Health Workers in planning, implementation, and assessment of its training program, professional development, and networking activities. Their input ensures that the program meets their needs and their community’s needs. It also ensures the program values and validates cultural and ethnic experiences of its participants.
- Promote cohesiveness among Community Health Workers as a community-based public health network. Our networking forum nurtures a Community Health Worker's developing identity as a valuable member of a professional group with common aspirations and challenges.
Name | Role |
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Anissa Ray | Director, Community Health Education Center |
Patrice James | Trainer, Community Health Education Center |
Toni Brooks | Coordinator, Community Health Education Center |
Tia Washington | Coordinator, Community Health Education Center |