Community Health Worker - NCMC Academics

Deadline to apply is September 4, 2026

Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline, public health worker with an understanding of the community they serve—connecting people to available health and social services through education, informal counseling, advocacy, and access to local resources. Program graduates will be eligible to apply for the Community Health Worker credential through the Missouri Credentialing Board.

Program Highlights

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Program is a 20-week, non-credit program that combines 100% online coursework hours with 60 service learning hours.
Service learning allows students to apply classroom concepts and practice the Missouri CHW core competencies in a behavioral health capacity within the communities they serve. Students design their service-learning experiences based on their interests, community, and personal learning plan. Service-learning experiences include resource gathering, networking, outreach, and workplace learning.

Duration: October 19, 2026 – March 19, 2027 (20 weeks)

Cost: Program fees ($1,675) and required textbook are fully covered by a Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grant.

Certification: North Central Missouri College is a Certified Curriculum Provider for CHWs through the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS).

Career: CHWs work under many job titles, including:

Community Health Advocate
Care Coordinator
Outreach Worker
Patient Navigator
Promotora / Health Promoter
Health Outreach Specialist
Case Management Aide / Care Assistant
Community Health Representative
Family Support Specialist

Eligibility Requirements

Enrollment for the CHW program is highly selective and seats fill quickly. To be considered, candidates must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Submit a current resume
Commit to 60+ supervised, service-learning hours
Attend the applicant selection interview and orientation (see application for specific dates)

*Note: Field sites and/or state credentialing may require registration with the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) and background screening.

Curriculum Overview

Course Subject	Key Topics	Timeline
Foundational Role & Public Health	CHW role & history, public health concepts, equity strategies	Weeks 1-3
Core Practice & Client Assessment	Ethics & boundaries, behavior change, cultural humility, initial assessments	Weeks 4-7
Client Communication & Case Management	Person-centered counseling. motivational interviewing, case management, home visits	Weeks 8-10
Professional Resilience & Special Populations	Stress management, self-care, workplace conflict resolution, career development, justice- involved care	Weeks 11-13
Chronic Conditions, Health & Trauma	Managing chronic conditions, active lifestyle habits, trauma- informed practice	Weeks 14-16
Community Outreach & Advocacy	Outreach methods, group training & facilitation, research & evaluation, community organizing	Weeks 17-20
*60 service-learning hours completed locally at an approved employer or site-designed to be flexible and convenient to fit your current schedule and community.		Weeks 4-19