Community Health Worker
Certification Training
CHWs are found in all sorts of settings, working to address systemic inequities and reduce barriers to health care for our communities’ most vulnerable.
Learn How You Can Help Your Community Members
Using principles and practices of Popular Education you will share and learn about the roles of CHWs as well as a range of topics relevant to the work of CHWs. By the end, you will have a big-picture understanding of community and public health and the ways you can have a positive impact on individual, family, and community health and wellness.
The course consists of 20 online sessions for 4.25 hours per session and for every week of class, there will be approximately an hour of independent or group homework. Upon completion of this training, participants will qualify for certification as a Community Health Worker and 90 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) from the Office of Equity and Inclusion at the State of Oregon. NEON CHW CEUs are reciprocal to MHACBO credits.
1
What is a Community Health Worker?
Community Health Workers (CHW) are members of the communities they serve and work in team environments. They build trusting relationships with community members, local social service agencies and healthcare providers. The CHW workforce models and promotes health equity for communities.
2
Are there requirements for the Training?
- Proficiency in English. The instructors speak Spanish and can support Spanish speakers to succeed, but full-time interpretation and translated materials are not available.
- The ability to fully participate in all sessions (please notify us if you need accommodations).
- Access to a laptop or PC with fully working camera and microphone for group work and discussions.
3
What Topics are Covered?
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Introduction to the CHW profession
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Introduction to Popular Education
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The Social Determinants of Health
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Trauma Informed Care and self-care
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Public Health
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Access to Health Care
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Counseling skills
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Communication Skills
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Working with Multi-Disciplinary Teams and Service Coordination and Collaboration
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Cross-cultural skills
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Disease Processes I & II
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Intorduction to Community Organizing
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Leadership and advocacy
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Assessing individual and family strengths and needs; Documentation skills
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Mental Health Promotion
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Outreach
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Addiction and Recovery
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Healthy Lifestyles
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATION TRAINING
NEXT SESSION STARTING SEPTEMBER 2025
Dates of training:
Cohort 5 - contact us for waitlist
- Sep. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24
- Oct. 7, 8, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
- Nov. 4, 5, 12, 18, 19
8:45 am to 1:00 pm PST
Cost: $1,500 per participant
We are actively taking names for our waitlist. Contact Kinda Cable at [email protected] to be notified when the next session opens.
*A Camera and/or a microphone is required to attend this training.
For more information about our future CHW Certification trainings please email Kinda at [email protected]
Testimonials
I am grateful for this training and for my future as a CHW. I feel part of the NEON family and feel I can always reach out to them for any support needed in the future.
-Kelly Davis
You two, and your team, are amazing. Thank you for putting this all together in a way that was fun and informative!
-Charmaine Martinez
You guys are truthfully appreciated for all the effort and time that has gone into your process of creating a well rounded, involved, and interactive environment.
-Lindsay Freeland
Meet the Trainers
Edna Murrieta, B.S., M.Ed. Admin., CHW
Edna is the Training Program Manager at NEON. She has worked in higher education supporting students from marginalized communities achieve success in higher education. She holds a B.S. in Public Administration from California State University, Chico and a Masters in Higher Education and Administration from Southern Illinois, Carbondale. She is a valuable asset and advocate in NEON’s efforts to address diversity, equity, and inclusion, both internally and in the services we provide.
Cami Miller, PSS, CHW
Cami Miller is the Training Coordinator at NEON. She is a Community Health Worker, Certified Recovery Mentor, and Peer Support Specialist. In addition to working in the addiction field, she has worked with the child and maternal health population, and with the houseless population. Cami is enthusiastic and dedicated to deepening her understanding of Motivational Interviewing. She is currently fine tuning her skills to better train folks as they support others in making meaningful changes.
Connie Sherrard, MSW, CHW
Connie holds a B.A. in Studio Art and certification in Elementary Education from Beloit College and a Master of Social Work with an emphasis in Planning, Administration and Management from Portland State University. Connie was the Training Manager at NEON for 6 years and now works with NEON as a contract trainer. Connie has worked in a variety of nonprofit and public settings dedicated to serving vulnerable populations and spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, where she learned the concepts and methods of Popular Education that she uses in her work with NEON.
Emily Hurd, B.A., CHW
is the Pathways Hub Coordinator at NEON and has a background in social services where she has provided advocacy, facilitated resource connections, and offered administrative support. She holds a Bachelors in Anthropology/Sociology with an emphasis in Social Welfare. Her expertise extends to delivering systems training and providing technical assistance to partners who utilize the Pathways Hub. She assists with facilitating Community Health Worker Certification training sessions alongside the NEON Training team.
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NEON is a connector, innovator, and expert resource
Our mission at NEON is to create a healthier Eastern Oregon. We accomplish this by reducing barriers for both residents and the systems that support their health. We are connectors, innovators and experts. We connect people and organizations to one another and to resources they need to meet their goals. Since 2012 we have been training traditional health workers and other front-line staff in health behavioral health, social services and other settings in the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality service, maintain professional boundaries and practice self-care.
Our History
NEON is a 501(c)3 nonprofit health collaborative originally serving Union, Wallowa, and Baker counties in Northeast Oregon and recently expanded into Umatilla and Malheur counties. NEON launched in 2004 from a small group of individuals who recognized the value of community collaboration in ensuring the health of our residents.
