To foster healthier and happier communities, AHEC West serves as a Maryland Department of Health-approved Community Health Worker (CHW) training provider. This CHW Training Program is offered online in a virtual classroom setting. Students who successfully complete the course learn the required skills needed to be successful in the health care field. Becoming a CHW allows you to be an advocate for patients while giving back to your community. Our current program is offered twice a year in the spring and fall.
The Maryland AHEC (MAHEC) CHW curriculum provides a 140-hour (100 classroom hours plus 40 hours of supervised field practicum), competency-based training that covers the 9 Maryland Department of Health core competencies:
Maryland’s CHW Core Competencies:
1. Advocacy and community capacity building skills
2. Effective oral and written communication skills
3. Cultural competency
4. Understanding of ethics and confidentiality issues
5. Knowledge of local resources and system navigation
6. Care coordination support skills
7. Teaching skills to promote healthy behavior change
8. Outreach methods and strategies
9. Understanding of public health concepts and health literacy
Although unified under the MAHEC Program name, the CHW training is scheduled and delivered by each of the three regional MAHECs – Eastern Shore AHEC, AHEC West and Central Maryland AHEC.
Since 2013, MAHEC centers have trained over 500 CHWs who are employed in health departments, hospitals, community-based agencies, AHECs, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and many others. Our talented instructors represent an array of experiences in education, healthcare, and human services.
Payment plans and scholarships are available.
Participants say…
• I wanted to personally thank the CHW Leadership team for such a wonderful training. It was professionally delivered. You have shared with us many resources that are so valuable to our scope of services and to the populations that we serve. This training will change the lives of many CHWs and many clients-patients in the communities that we serve.
Lemuel Pierre, MD/PA, EPHPHATHA MEDICAL CARE SERVICES
• Thanks so much! I enjoyed every moment of this course!
Gretchen Derewicz, Health Care Access Maryland
• Thank you so much! I really enjoyed the class and getting to know everyone.
Lori Smith, Mountain Laurel Medical Center
• First let me tell you how much I enjoyed your class. Intellectually I have learned so much, but more importantly to me, it has opened my eyes and heart so much as to how to better care for and connect with my fellow human beings. It has been a very empowering experience, so I am very thankful.
Ericka Swann, Health Care Access Maryland
• Thank you, this training was amazing!
Arielle Dismel, Health Care Access Maryland
Additional Program Information:
University of Maryland Medical School
For more information, please contact Joy Taylor at jtaylor@ahecwest.org
