Frequently Asked Questions
Critical Links Community Health Worker (CHW) Certificate Program
FACT SHEET
To create the new CHW profession, the Healthcare Education Industry Partnership, a project of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, began working in 2003 with a coalition of rural and urban health care systems, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of Minnesota, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other groups.
By 2005, the partnership had established an 11-credit community health worker certificate program. In addition to being taught at five sites in Minnesota, the curriculum has also been sold to (over 30) organizations outside of Minnesota.
11-credit Community Health Worker Certificate Program
- Blends classroom and field-based learning
- Curriculum consists of six (1 and 2 credit) required courses
- The Community Health Worker Role: Advocacy and Outreach
- Organization and Resources: Community and Personal Strategies
- Community Health Worker’s Role in Teaching and Capacity Building
- The Community Health Worker: Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
- Community Health Worker: Coordination, Documentation and Reporting
- Communication Skills and Cultural Competence
- Currently offered at five educational sites
Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC)
Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights
Rochester Community and Technical College
South Central College, Mankato
Summit (Academy) OIC
- Schedules vary by school
- Typical tuition costs
MCTC $148/credit x 11 = $1,628
Inver Hills $151.15 /credit x 11= $1662.65
Summit OIC 10 wk =$2,250; 15 wk. $3,375; 20 wk. $4,500
- Over 250 students have graduated from the CHW program as of December 2007
- 60 MN health care providers and social service agencies now employ CHWs
- 75 new positions created in the past two years
Grandfathering
Workers who have been practicing at least 5 years in the field can take an assessment to measure their competencies as a CHW. The testing period will begin about May 1st, 2009, through October 31st, 2009. The cost is $125.00.
After passing the test, the worker will receive a CHW certificate. This certificate will be valid when applying as an enrolled provider for reimbursement as a CHW in the state of Minnesota through the DHS program.
Studies show that community health workers:
- Helped lower average per-capita charges for 40 children in an asthma management study from $735 per participant to $181. Emergency room visits also dropped from 60 to 10.
- Decreased annual costs for 117 Medicaid patients with diabetes by $2,245 per patient.
- Reduced uncompensated costs for urgent care and inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care of 590 underserved men by $14,244 a month, a return on investment of $2.28 for every program dollar.
Source: Health Education Industry Partnership
For more information:
Minnesota Community Health Worker Institute* Website (prototype under construction): http://www.mnchwinstitute.org/
*Working title