Community Health Workers for Advancing Public Health (CHWAP), an academic-community collaborative co-led by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and ACTRI Center for Community Health (CCH) at UC San Diego, aims to train 200 individuals from refugee, immigrant, and Native American populations living in San Diego County to become community health workers (CHWs). This initiative is funded by a $3-million Health Resources and Services Administration grant geared towards providing culturally competent community health worker curriculum and training. Program goals are to:

1. Demonstrate the efficacy of re-skilling individuals from underserved populations for living wage jobs
2. Increase investment in training programs for immigrants, refugees, and Native Americans
3. Improve overall socioeconomic status in San Diego County

Our Refugee Health Unit is co-leading this project with Ethnic Community-based Organizations, including Somali Family Services, to recruit aspiring CHWs from refugee and immigrant communities to our education programs for CHWs, made available through UC San Diego’s Extended Studies Program. In addition, we are expanding the CHWAP training offerings for Community Health Workers by modifying an existing curriculum from the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency to ensure it is culturally relevant and tailored to the needs of local refugee and Native/Indigenous populations. These adaptations will be made utilizing a community-based participatory approach including focus groups to gather input from the community as part of the curriculum modification process.

Key components of the training program include:

• Flexible – hybrid model, online and in-person options available
• No tuition/cost to participants for the training
• Financial assistance available – for childcare, technology, and transportation costs
• The option to apply for and enter an apprenticeship program, developed in partnership with San Diego Workforce Partnerships, that will translate into a job
• Limited opportunities for paid apprenticeship placements and internships
• Support for finding employment with our clinical partners and other community-based organizations

CHWAP training graduates will also receive a UC San Diego Certificate as a qualified Community Health Worker from UC San Diego Extension.

Please click here to be directed to the official CHWAP website at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.

Are you a San Diego County community member interested in enrolling in the program?

Please apply here.