Funding available to train community health workers

Press release

Several new entry-level health care professions are emerging in Montana including the paraprofessional position of community health worker. New, temporary funding is now available to cover these training costs at health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, health centers, medical offices and community-based organizations.

The Montana Office of Rural Health at Montana State University will distribute funding to employer facilities when an employee has completed the 85-hour CHW training. The funding is available through a grant by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Statewide training partners include the Montana Hospital Association, Montana Area Health Education Centers, RiverStone Health and Montana Health Network.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with the Montana Office of Rural Health to offer the Community Health Worker training as a benefit to our members and the patients and communities they serve,” said Rich Rasmussen, president/CEO of the Montana Hospital Association. “The curriculum will improve the rural health care workforce and advance population health, with an emphasis on mental and behavioral health support.”

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. The CHW training will provide individuals skills in the following areas: professional skills and conduct; communication; self-care; interpersonal relationships; outreach, navigation and coordination; organization; advocacy; capacity building; and teaching. The CHW training is facilitated by an instructor and provides a certificate upon completion.

Learn more about these trainings at http://healthinfo.montana.edu/workforce-development/chwtraining.html/.

Contact: Beth Ann Carter, Montana Office of Rural Health, beth.carter@montana.edu, 406-925-1261 for more information.