A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community served. This course invites you to strengthen that role with practical strategies, real‑world insights, and guidance from experienced instructors who understand the challenges and opportunities CHWs face every day.

During this 8-week course, you’ll dive into essential topics such as defining your scope of practice, navigating ethical dilemmas, building effective cultural mediation strategies, sharpening your presentation skills, and conducting community assessments.

This fully virtual program blends flexible online learning — readings, quizzes, and hands‑on assignments — with weekly 2‑hour Live Learning Sessions on Zoom.

Ideal for

Patient Navigators, Community Health Workers, Care Coordinators, Promoters de Salud.

Cost

• $700 general public.
• FREE to participants with coupon code

What to Expect

This 8-week online course is instructor-led with one live learning session (LLS) per week. You will complete weekly homework before attending each LLS. We ask that you participate in the live learning sessions by video to connect with your peers. Time commitment is 3 to 4 hours per week.

8 Live Learning Sessions

Live Learning Sessions will be held every Tuesday from 10 AM to 12 PM MT, from February 3rd to March 24th, 2026.

Course Access

The course materials will be available 2 weeks before the first live session. You will receive additional instructions from your course TA at that time. If you don’t see an email (don’t forget to check your spam folder), please contact Gardenia Najera at gardenia.najera@unco.edu. There will be required homework to complete before the first live learning session.

Successful Completion

To earn a Certificate of Completion, you must complete the following:

• Attend 6 of 8 live learning sessions
• Complete 80% of assignments
• Complete the post-course evaluation

Learning Objectives

1. Identify what is inside and outside of a CHW’s scope of practice.
2. Respond to common ethical challenges you may encounter as a CHW.
3. Identify ways to provide linguistically and culturally relevant services.
4. Identify cultural mediation strategies.
5. Describe elements of a community outreach plan.
6. Create and deliver a health presentation.
7. Describe strategies for community health assessments.

Length of Learning Opportunity

8 weeks

Primary Competency

Communication Skills.

Cancellation Policy

• If you are unable to attend the course, you must cancel your registration at least 10 days before the first day of training in order to receive a refund.
• Cancellations are subject to a $75 cancellation fee.
• To cancel, you must send an email to gardenia.najera@unco.edu.
• No-shows will not be granted a refund.
• Refunds will be issued on the original card used for payment OR as a credit toward a future course.

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Looking to take your training even further?

This course is one of four instructor-led classes that make up the Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Pathway, a comprehensive bundle designed to equip you with the essential skills to become a credentialed CHW in Colorado. If you're considering a broader learning experience, the full pathway offers:

• 4 instructor-led courses
• discounted bundle price: $1,500 (save $500)
• additional required self-paced courses at no extra cost
• the option to attend the courses online or in-person
• foundational skills in health navigation, care coordination, motivational interviewing, and CHW fundamentals

Completing the full pathway qualifies you to take the state of Colorado assessment and be listed as a credentialed CHW in Colorado. If that’s part of your goal, you can explore the full details:

Community Health Worker Training Pathway

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We strive to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please let us know of any accommodations that will assist your full participation.

Please choose a session below.

You will be contacted within 2 business days with additional information.