Community Health Worker Certificate (CHWC)
Community Health Worker Certificate (CHWC)
Community Health Workers are trained advocates in communities where they are connected by culture, language, or residence. They empower individuals to gain access to health and community resources through education, outreach, home visits, mentoring, and referrals.
The Community Health Worker Certificate prepares students to work in varied settings, including community-based health and social service agencies, and home visitation programs. Practicum experiences in the community are a major component of the certificate.
Graduates of the certificate program have diverse skills including interviewing, collecting data, obtaining vital signs, mentoring, providing client advocacy, providing referrals to community resources, care coordination, promoting basic health, and working with culturally diverse clients and community organizations.
Current CPR certification, up-to-date immunization verification, and a physical exam are required prior to practicum placement.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are qualified to apply to the Ohio Board of Nursing for a certificate to practice as a Certified Community Health Worker. A BCI (civilian) and FBI (federal) criminal records check is required by the Ohio Board of Nursing with the application for the certificate to practice.
For more information, please contact the Health and Public Safety Division at (513) 569-1670.
To apply for this program at Cincinnati State, visit the Admissions section of the College website.
Community Health Worker Certificate (CHW)
Program Prerequisite: Student must meet with the program coordinator prior to enrolling in the program.
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHW 100 | Community Health Worker Training | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| MCH 106 | Health and Wellness Promotion | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| MCH 116 | Cultural Competency for Health and Public Safety Professions | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CHW 180 | Community Health Worker Practicum | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 9 | 10 | 12 | |
CHW Courses
CHW 100 Community Health Worker Training
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.
A course on the community health worker's role, skills, and responsibilities, using concepts and curriculum requirements defined by the Ohio Board of Nursing Community Health Worker (CHW) Program. Topics include: health data collection, basic anatomy and physiology, basic medical terminology, health education, client communication, confidentiality, community advocacy and referral, and documentation and reporting. Students who complete CHW 100 and CHW 180 successfully may apply for professional certification as a CHW.
Prerequisites: None
Instructor Consent Required
CHW 180 Community Health Worker Practicum
3 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 8 Lab Hours.
Students complete 130 hours of clinical practice in a community agency or community health setting, performing functions of the community health worker under supervision of faculty and agency site supervisor, and attend a weekly on-campus seminar. Students who complete CHW 100 and CHW 180 successfully may apply for professional certification as a CHW.
Prerequisites: CHW 100, MCH 106 (minimum grade C for both)
Instructor Consent Required
MCH Courses
MCH 100 Healthcare Informatics
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on technology used in the healthcare delivery system and electronic health records (EHR) management. Topics include: hardware, software, user interfaces, telecommunications and networks, and health management information systems.
Prerequisites: IM 105 or 20 wpm keyboarding speed
MCH 101 Medical Terminology 1
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on the basic structure of medical words and abbreviations. Topics include: prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms, and singulars and plurals.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement
Ohio Transfer Assurance Guide Approved
MCH 102 Medical Terminology 2
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A continuation of MCH 101. Topics include: defining, pronouncing, and spelling medical terms using prefixes, suffixes, roots, and combined forms.
Prerequisites: MCH 101 (minimum grade C)
Ohio Transfer Assurance Guide Approved
MCH 104 Comprehensive Medical Terminology
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A comprehensive study of medical terminology. Topics include: prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms, singulars and plurals, and abbreviations associated with medical specialties.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement
Ohio Transfer Assurance Guide Approved
MCH 106 Health and Wellness Promotion
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on promoting health and wellness issues to the public. Topics include: self-empowerment, stress reduction, physical fitness, healthy eating, addiction avoidance, identifying and reducing risk factors in disease, and alternative therapies.
Prerequisites: None
MCH 108 Professionalism in Healthcare
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on professional standards applicable in healthcare settings. Topics include: communication skills, employability skills, healthcare teams, diversity, career planning, and professional development.
Prerequisites: ENG 080 or appropriate placement
MCH 110 Orientation to Health Records
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on the content and format of health records. Topics include: standard forms, legal issues related to health records, maintaining health records, and filing and retrieving diagnostic reports.
Prerequisites: MCH 101 (minimum grade C), and IM 105 or appropriate keyboarding score
MCH 112 Issues in Health Economics
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on current trends and concerns related to the economics of health care systems. Topics include: economic differences between medical care and other commodities.
Prerequisites: None
MCH 114 Law and Ethics for Healthcare
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on fundamentals of medical jurisprudence and essentials of professional behavior in healthcare. Topics include: medical ethics, legal concerns in healthcare, and the healthcare provider's role as an agent of the physician.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement
MCH 116 Cultural Competency for Health and Public Safety Professions
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on the influences of race, culture, and ethnicity in shaping values, belief systems, and behaviors of Health and Public Safety professionals and patients/clients.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement
MCH 118 Quality Improvement in Healthcare
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on quality improvement in healthcare, focused on patient-centered care. Topics include: organizations responsible for healthcare accreditation and regulation, healthcare provider departments that address regulations, and trends affecting delivery of quality healthcare services.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement
MCH 120 Health Unit Coordinator Training
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.
A course on skills required for entry-level medical clerical workers. Topics include: patient charts, transcribing nursing treatment, using computer software, medication, respiratory and physical therapy orders, X-ray and MRI scan procedures, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, and endoscopy.
Prerequisites: MCH 101 or MCH 104 (minimum grade C for either)
MCH 130 Nurse Aide Training
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.
A course on caring for the elderly in long-term care facilities. Topics include: communication skills, mental health and social service needs, resident rights, activities of daily living, safety, and restorative services. Students who complete the course at 80% or above are qualified to take the Ohio Department of Health Competency Evaluation Test for a State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA).
Prerequisites: None
Instructor Consent Required
MCH 132 Patient Care Assistant Training
3 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.
A course that prepares students for employment in acute care facilities as nursing assistive personnel. Topics include: role definition/classification, communication, basic anatomy/physiology concepts with associated observations, overview of nutrition/diet therapy, introduction to common pathologies, and commonly delegated skills.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement, and MCH 130, and on State Nurse Aide Registry or eligible for Registry
Instructor Consent Required
MCH 134 Medication Aide Training
6 Credits. 4 Lecture Hours. 4 Lab Hours.
A course that prepares students to distribute medications in long-term care and residential care facilities, through a minimum of 80 hours of lecture and laboratory practice and 40 hours of clinical experience.
Prerequisites: MCH 130, and on State Nurse Aide Registry or have one year of experience in a residential care setting
Instructor Consent Required
MCH 136 Restorative Aide Training
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 2 Lab Hours.
A course on rehabilitation services used to return individuals to optimal mobility and functioning following various conditions. Topics include: lifting, moving, and ambulation procedures; care of individuals with musculoskeletal, neurological, and integumentary conditions; and restorative approaches to meeting nutrition, hydration, and personal care needs.
Prerequisites: MCH 130, and on State Nurse Aide Registry or eligible for Registry
Instructor Consent Required
MCH 138 Patient Care Skills
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 3 Lab Hours.
A course on fundamental health care concepts and skills for students planning a career in healthcare. Topics include: basic body mechanics, patient draping techniques, infection control techniques, oxygen therapy, and problem solving techniques.
Prerequisites: None
MCH 141 Electrocardiography 1
3 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.
A course on basic principles of electrocardiography. Topics include: the electrical conductive system of the heart, patient preparation, setting up the ECG machine, and recognizing and correcting distortion problems.
Prerequisites: BIO 100 or BIO 111 or BIO 151 (minimum grade C for all)
MCH 142 Electrocardiography 2
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.
A continuation of MCH 141, including review of basic electrocardiography and 12 lead ECG interpretation. Topics include: cardiac electrophysiology, recognizing common dysrhythmia and advanced cardiac dysrhythmias, chamber enlargement, pacemakers, myocardial ischemia, injury, infarct patterns, and effects of drugs and electrolytes on the ECG.
Prerequisites: MCH 141 (minimum grade C), or certification in EMT, Paramedic, Nursing, or Practical Nursing
Faculty
Advisor
Lisa Lucas, MA
lisa.lucas@cincinnatistate.edu
Experiential Learning Coordinator
Jenny Boles, MSN, RN
jennifer.boles@cincinnatistate.edu