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Gain a deeper understanding of community health
Jump into community health work with this introductory course designed to empower you as a patient advocate and healthcare ally. Led by a seasoned expert, this course delves into the fundamental principles of community health, arming you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of healthcare systems and best support individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Throughout this course, you will cultivate communication and relationship-building skills, essential for forging connections with patients and facilitating their access to resources. You will also gain a deep understanding of social determinants of health and learn to identify and address disparities in healthcare access and treatment, positioning yourself as an advocate for health equity and social justice. Whether you are embarking on a new career path in community health, seeking to expand your skill set as a healthcare professional, or simply driven by a passion for improving health outcomes in your community, this course offers an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Flexible schedule
Course can be completed in 4-8 weeks and is self-paced online.
Career advisement
Receive a personal advising session with an industry leader.
High job demand
Gain a competitive edge.
Career pathways in community health
Approximate return on investment for each academic pathway
After taking the course, the learner can immediately enter the workforce or continue education to increase the earning potential.
Pathway 1: Enter the workforce quickly. Complete the Foundations of Community Health Worker course and immediately enter the workforce with job titles like Care Managers, Community Health Worker, Care Coordinator, and Care Manager.
- The median salary is $28,703 a year.
Pathway 2: Go deeper and convert your noncredit course to credit, and take and pass additional classes. This makes you eligible to sit for the Colorado state assessment (launching in 2025). After passing, you can apply for positions like Access Representative, Admissions Coordinator, Case Manager, Medicaid Service Coordinator, Patient Access Coordinator, Patient Access Specialist, Patient Advocate, Patient Navigator, Patient Resource Worker, and Patient Service Representative.
- The median salary is $46,920 a year.
Pathway 3: Continue your academic journey to get a degree in health, such as public health, which will allow you to increase your earning potential. Explore roles like Health Educators, Healthcare Practitioners, Health Science Technicians, Health and Environmental Scientist, Epidemiologist, Health Educator, Infectious Disease Specialist, Health Service Administrator, Healthcare Consultant, and Health Coach.
- The median salary is $65,586 a year.
About Foundations of Community Health Worker - becoming a health worker
Students in this course will learn the basic concepts of community health work and the patient-centric concept of assisting patients along the health care continuum. Students will develop skills necessary to effectively communicate and build relationships with patients within the complex systems they live in. Students will also learn how to evaluate and locate health care resources and support systems in relation to an individual’s health. Consideration of varying stages of care, social determinants that impact physical health, and reducing disparities in access and treatment will be reviewed. Barriers to care, problem solving, and managing information and resources will also be discussed.
The course is $450, with a $35 transaction fee per payment. There are no books to purchase.
- Registration opens in May
- Course begins – September 3, 2024
- Last day to register – September 10, 2024
- Course ends – November 3, 2024
Once you successfully complete the Foundations of Community Health Worker course, you can immediately enter the workforce with newly learned skills. You will receive a digital badge embedded with the competencies learned. You can include this badge on your resume, LinkedIn page, portfolio, or share it with an employer. Students will also receive a certificate of completion.
Students can also convert the course to three credits and continue to an MSU Denver certificate or degree. See FAQs for more information.
Learning objectives:
- Discuss and reflect on professionalism through adherence to organizational rules and regulations, ethical principles, and boundaries of the navigator’s scope of work.
- Define the impact of individual health beliefs and behavior on health care decisions.
- Integrate knowledge of the social and emotional aspects of health into patient/client, caregiver and family interactions and support.
- Describe basic knowledge of health promotion, disease prevention and common disease care continuums.
- Apply understanding of the health care system to improve client/patient care.
- Identify resources and appropriate referrals to reduce patient/client barriers to care including reduction of health disparities and access issues.
Allison Draayer, LCSW, is an MSU Denver faculty member with over 10 years of healthcare experience. She is originally from the Chicago area but moved to Denver in 2008. She has a degree in Communications from Calvin College in Michigan and received a master’s in social work from the University of Denver in 2014. Allison currently works as the Director of Community Care at a health center in Colorado. She is passionate about serving others and improving health care for the underserved.
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Email usPhone: 303-615-1234
Office Location:
Jordan Student Success Building
3rd Floor – #330
Auraria Campus
Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Innovative and Lifelong Learning
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 6
Denver, CO 80217-3362