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Empower Your Community with Health and Wellness

Transform your passion for helping others into a meaningful career with St. Louis Community College's community health worker (CHW) short-term career training. This program blends hybrid classroom instruction and service learning, covering topics such as public health, chronic disease management and client-centered counseling. Upon completion, you'll have the skills to help others navigate local health care systems and promote healthier communities.

What is Community Health Worker Training at St. Louis Community College?

Community health workers are trusted community members who play vital roles assisting individuals and communities in adopting healthy behaviors through service coordination, advocacy, and capacity-building strategies. This short-term career training combines classroom instruction with real-world experience to prepare you to practice the Missouri CHW core competencies.

By completing this training, you’ll gain knowledge of essential topics including:

  • Public health, health equity, and the role of CHWs.
  • Communication strategies, cultural humility, and conflict resolution.
  • Care management, client-centered counseling, and home visiting.
  • Mental and behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and substance use disorders.
  • Health outreach, community engagement, and facilitation techniques.

Apply what you learn within your community through your customized service-learning experiences. You will complete a workplace learning project or internship, develop a community resource manual, network with local organizations, and attend community health events.

Graduates of the CHW program are eligible to apply for the Community Health Worker credential through the Missouri Credentialing Board.

Pathways Illustration

What Can You Do as a Community Health Worker?

After completing the CHW training program, you'll be ready to work effectively within healthcare and social service organizations to coordinate resources, provide social support and informal counseling, facilitate health education programs, and collect data to identify and advocate for individual and community health needs.

CHWs can have a variety of job titles depending on their specific roles. These can include community health advocates, outreach workers, patient navigators, promotoras, health outreach specialists and coordinators, case managers, and family support specialists.

Community Health Worker Short-Term Career Training

Enrollment in the CHW program is selective. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements to be considered. Only top candidates will be chosen to interview.

To be considered:

  • Submit your CHW training application.
  • Watch your email and then follow instructions to:
    • Submit an updated resume that includes any relevant experience.
    • Tell us about your interest in the CHW program and passion for serving the community.
    • Select your class preference.
    • Tell us if you were referred by your employer.

Eligibility Requirements

Enrollment in the community health worker (CHW) program is highly selective and seats fill quickly. All candidates that apply will be required to:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Demonstrate academic and career readiness.
  • Demonstrate passion for community health work.
  • Commit to working as a CHW.

Applicants may also be required to:

  • Register with the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry if required for service learning.
  • Submit an employer commitment letter if completing as part of employment.
  • Demonstrate interest in and intent for employment within the behavioral heath workforce.

Technology Requirements

This is a hybrid training program. To participate, you will need:

  • A computer with an external keyboard.
  • Reliable internet access.
  • The ability to operate a computer and work with files.
  • The ability to navigate the internet and use online applications.

A limited number of devices are available for check-out and free internet is available to students while on STLCC’s campus.

Clinical and Field Work

Students must complete 60+ hours of service learning in the CHW program. Some organizations may mandate that a criminal background check, immunization(s) and/or drug screening be conducted prior to placement. Students not passing these checks may be prohibited from participating in the community health service learning experience, thus making them ineligible to meet the program completion requirements.

Class Schedule

Upcoming Classes

May 2025 | T/Th 6-9 p.m. | Live Virtual Lecture (LVL)

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Why Should You Choose STLCC’s Community Health Worker Program?

Teacher and Student

Gain Real-World Experience

Immerse yourself in hands-on learning within your community that’s customized to your goals and interests. You may leverage an existing job or volunteer role or may work with staff to arrange an internship or project in their area of interest.

Student Outside

Meet State Requirements with Confidence

STLCC is a certified CHW training provider, and the program fully satisfies Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service’s requirements to apply for the CHW credential.

Students in a lunchroom

Leadership Development

STLCC’s CHW graduates are at the forefront of the CHW movement. They established the nationally recognized St. Louis CHW Coalition, serve as top officers for the CHW Association of Missouri, represent CHWs on the Missouri Credentialing Board, sit on the National Association of Community Health Workers Board of Directors.

Student Outside

Quality

STLCC has the highest completion rate (85+%) of Missouri’s certified training programs. The program’s success is due to the dedicated team, key partnerships, networking opportunities, and curriculum that is tailored to the needs of our community.

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