“HRSA Community Health Worker Training and Apprenticeship Program”
The Apprenticeship Program is currently full but we hope to open it up again. Please join the CHWARI newsletter to be updated.
Due to a generous grant from the Health Resource Service Administration (HRSA), enthusiastic permanent US residents who are starting out as Community Health Workers have been able to participate in CHWARI’s apprenticeship program. This program provides mentoring and financial support to help CHW apprentices train, become certified, and then excel in community health work! This opportunity is in addition to employment in a participating job (2100-2500 working hours). Stipends between $5-9K (on top of salary) have been available for completing program milestones.
Since 2023, the Apprenticeship Program has worked with 114 CHW apprentices who have benefited from the opportunity to work with one of our employer partners while putting into practice the skills learned in the CHW 72-hour core training. In addition, they have received essential training such as Mental Health First Aid, Vaccine Confidence, Job Readiness, Digital Literacy, and Emergency Preparedness. Apprentices have also had access to specialty trainings offered by the Institute for Education in Healthcare, including Racial and Social Justice in Healthcare, Behavioral Health for Paraprofessionals, Intimate Partner Violence, Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes, Older Adults, and many others. These trainings have helped apprentices develop expertise in key areas of chronic disease and better support our communities in facing health challenges.
To strengthen learning and connection, we have also been offering CHW Monthly Learning Collaborative calls, where apprentices from different agencies, hospitals, and community health facilities come together to share knowledge on topics relevant to our communities. So far, out of the 114 apprentices who have participated, 80 have already earned their CHW certification through the Rhode Island Certification Board, thanks to the support of our team. We are continuing to assist the remaining apprentices to complete the program successfully, and we are confident that we will be able to offer this program to even more people in the future.
Apprentice Testimonial
“I began the CHW Apprenticeship Program as a contingent of being a peer support to transgender and LGBQIA+ patients of the East Bay Community Action Program. The apprenticeship helped round out my public health knowledge and improve my ability to provide services to clients. The most beneficial part was networking with the numerous other CHWs in the extensive trainings required by the program. Those relationships are invaluable resources for me and my clients.”
Rex LeBeau, they/them, CHW for EBCAP at the East Providence HEZ
Apprentice Testimonial
“Completing the CHW Training & Apprenticeship Program through CHWARI was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my career and community. The training gave me a strong foundation of knowledge and confidence, while the apprenticeship allowed me to apply those skills hands-on with real support and mentorship. The program not only enhanced my skills and strengthened my current role, but also deepened my ability to serve families and individuals in a meaningful way. I walked away not only with a certification, but with the strength and knowledge to truly make a difference in people’s lives. I would highly recommend this program to anyone passionate about helping others and looking to build a rewarding career as a Community Health Worker.”
Amy Lee Rodriguez, Family Support Specialist/ Referral Coordinator for the First Connections Department at Community Care Alliance
This program is an ideal opportunity for new and upcoming CHWs (with permanent US residency) who are interested in building their portfolio of community health work and acquiring gainful employment.
This includes:
- People who are working in the community already but have not been formally trained or certified as CHW.
- Individuals looking for an opportunity to change career paths.
- Anyone who is excited by the opportunity to help others in their community connect to essential resources like healthcare, behavioral health care, housing initiatives, family services, and other social determinants of health.
- Individuals who have experience working in health care and health services but are looking to get involved in and work towards building health literacy and education in their communities.
- Those who are interested in expanding their skillset to include Core Competency in CHW, Mental Health First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Vaccine Hesitancy, Digital Literacy and Job Readiness.
This is NOT a great fit for:
- Those who are in the process of pursuing or have already attained their CHW certification or have advanced educational credentials.
- Candidates who are NOT fluent in English.
- Candidates who do not have permanent residency. (Unfortunately, we have no flexibility on this.)
CHWARI and the Institute for Education in Healthcare (IEH) at Rhode Island College (RIC) awarded funds to bolster CHW workforce to address social and health inequities of underserved Rhode Islanders.
Multi-year program focused on education and on-the-job training to build pipeline of community health workers. Goal: 170 new CHWs
Training and apprenticeship program to increase CHW workforce. Connecting underserved populations to care, mental health, preventative care, treatment and recovery, chronic disease care, etc.
Increase access to care, improve public health emergency
response, address needs of underserved communities.
152 training hours are necessary to fullfill the education apprenticeship requirement.
Disbursement handled by the Institute for Education in Healthcare at Rhode Island College.
This list changes, but here is an example of our robust list of employer partners. These employers have jobs that are eligible for the apprenticeship program. You must gain employment in a participating job in order to participate in the program.
- Blackstone Valley Community Health Centers
- Child and Family
- Coastal Medical/Lifespan
- Community Health Institute/Lifespan
- Community Health Network of RI
- Comprehensive Community Action Plan (CCAP)
- Crossroads
- East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP)
- Meals on Wheels
- Neighborhood Health Plan
- Newport Mental Health
- Prospect Medical
- Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC)
- Providence Housing Authority
- Raising Hope Inc.
- RI Physicians Corporation Primary Care
- The Autism Project/Lifespan
- Thundermist
- Tides Family Services
- Tri-County HEZ
- Urban Perinatal Education Center
- Wood River
These trainings are free to our apprentices. Your stipends are intended to help pay for your time as you attend trainings.
- Mental Health First Aid (8 hr)
- Emergency Preparedness (8 hr)
- Technology and Digital Literacy, Employee Readiness (with RIC Professional Studies and Continuing Education) (24 hrs)
- Vaccine Hesitancy (2 hr)
- Advanced Public Health Training (30 hr)
Specialized Trainings Integrated into Apprenticeship (Apprentice Chooses 1)
- Older Adults Training (30 hr)
- Dementia Training (30 hr)
- Behavioral Health Certificate Training (30 hr)
- CHW Supervisor Training (30 hr)
- HIV Endorsement Training (45 hr)
- Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Management (30 hr)
- Racial and Social Justice Training (30 hr)
152 training hours fulfills apprenticeship requirement
Employer Partner Committment:
- Hire 1 or more CHWs as an employee of your organization for length of the apprenticeship
- (3-month probationary period).
- At the end of apprenticeship commit to “pay-bump” as apprentice transitions into traditional employee.
- Interface with IEH data collection coordinator for performance measures and reporting.
- Receive monthly site visits from IEH Program Evaluator and CHW Wellness Coordinators for observational purposes.
- Participate in partner/ IEH meetings as needed to discuss grant.
Contact
If you are interested, please contact:
Director of CHWARI Apprenticeship Program
Paola Nuñez Reyes, MA, BS, CCHW, CPE
pnunezreyez@ric.edu
