The Tufts COHERE training program for “upskilling CHWs” is aimed to provide more training for currently practicing CHWs. This CHW continuing education track will cover Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (data analytics and assessment skills; policy development and program planning skills; communication skills; health equity skills; community partnership skills; public health sciences skills; management and finance skills; leadership and systems thinking skills) to enhance the ability of current CHWs to promote the health of their communities and achieve health equity. Specific topic areas for applying these competencies include social determinants of health, cultural awareness, health literacy, emergency preparedness, health equity, COVID-19 prevention, and vaccine hesitancy. Through a mix of didactic and active learning activities, trainees will reflect on the ways these topics relate to their work in health care.
The program consists of 40 hours of training delivered over 16 weeks, culminating in a certificate of completion from Tufts Public Health Programs. We will aim to train a cohort of 10 trainees annually, who will participate in virtual and in-person training sessions. In addition, there will be asynchronous learning activities assigned for completion outside of the live sessions.
The schedule for the 2024 program will be similar to the January to May 2023 cohort, which included 16 live sessions one weeknight (6-8pm) via zoom and Saturday mornings (9am-12pm) via a mix of zoom and in-person sessions. (Specific dates will be detailed later.)
There is a $3,750 stipend to compensate for time and travel for each trainee for the year. Stipend eligibility requirements are outlined under FAQs.
Furthermore, COHERE trainees will be mentored by program leadership and receive assistance identifying potential internship sites and opportunities to complete 1,000 internship hours. Mentors will be identified based upon trainees’ interests.
Eligibility Requirements: 18 years or older, previous work experience as a community health worker
Applications for the Spring 2024 session are now open! They are linked on the COHERE home page
Please email any questions, to cohere@tufts.edu