Community Health Worker Spring 24

To be notified the next time this course is available, please email Dr. Teresa Wagner at teresa.wagner@unthsc.edu

The American Public Health Association defines a community health worker as "a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served." CHWs are natural helpers in the community who serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

This course is designed to certify learners as Community Health Workers in the State of Texas.

CHW Certification Objectives

1. 1. Evaluate and implement entry-level proficiency in CHW skills including client-centered assessment, coaching, and health education to deploy in group facilitation, community organizing, and advocacy.​
   2. Develop and integrate job readiness and professional skills necessary for employment in the CHW field.​
   3. Define ethics, scope of practice, professional boundaries, conflict resolution, self-care, time management, & skills for giving & receiving constructive feedback.​
   4. Analyze & evaluate health information from public health, behavioral science, evidence-based & cultural perspectives using best practices for health promotion.​
   5. Appraise and apply core concepts for working effectively with diverse clients and communities, including cultural humility and ecological perspective.​ 

To Become a Certified CHW in Texas:

• Must be a Texas Resident
• Must be over 16 years of age
• Training – Must complete 160-hour competency-based certification program certified by DSHS; or
• Experience – At least 1,000 hours of verified CHW work services within the past 6 years
• No cost to apply for certification
• April 8th State CHW Day in Texas

Course Director

Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, CPPS, CHWI, DipACLM, CHWC Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Coaching and is a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. Dr. Wagner currently oversees the state patient safety institute, SaferCare Texas. She’s an associate professor in the School of Public Health and the School of Health Professions at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Wagner’s research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health and nutrition literacy to improve population health frequently leveraging CHWs. Her health literate Certification Curriculum and continuing education learning modules help CHWs educate people in overcoming barriers to health and wellness. As a result of her work, she has received both the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award as well as the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2022, she was one of 25 National Institute of Health researchers selected to study the use of artificial intelligence to abate health disparities and in 2023, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. She was also recently selected by UNC-Chapel Hill as a Consultant and Advisory Board member for the National Maternal Child Health Faculty Development Fellowship Program.

Learn more about our Community Health Worker Center

under the Direction of Dr. Teresa Wagner.