Community Health Worker Spring 2026 Luna Smith

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

Course Faculty:

Annabel Luna-Smith, MS, CHW & CHWI Annabel is a certified community health worker instructor with a Master’s Degree in Lifestyle Health Sciences. She has spent over 15 years serving the community as a patient advocate, a care ambassador, and a community liaison. Her passion is to empower others with knowledge and tools that will allow them to thrive. She desires to do this with the community she serves and the CHWs she teaches. Annabel is purposeful in relationship building, creating strategic partnerships, and developing programs that benefit the community.

Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, 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 a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. Dr. Wagner is an associate professor in the College of Public Health at UNT Health Science Center. She is cross-appointed in the College of Health Professions and the College of Nursing. Dr. Wagner is the Director of the UNTHSC State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. Her research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health literacy. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who works to certify community health workers as conduits to health literacy. As a result of her work, she has received the 2018 Texas Health Literacy Hero Award and the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Christian University. In 2023, she received the UNTHSC School of Health Professions Faculty Achievement Award. In 2024, she received the Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award and a Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association.

Learn more about our Community Health Worker Center

under the Direction of Dr. Teresa Wagner.