The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded ConnectionHealth the Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP). The project’s title is ACHIEVE, which aims to advance the conversation around CHWs in the state while recruiting and training Community Health Workers for sustainable employment opportunities. ConnectionHealth will operate the project in partnership with, and support from, the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC), UAB and USA, State Medical Centers, BlueCross and BlueShield of Alabama and VIVA Health.
The project will allow us to explore the feasibility of developing a sustainable CHW infrastructure in our state that includes CHWs as care team members and as a destination career. More specifically, the project focus includes expanding the CHW workforce, upskilling current CHWs, creating and/or finding employment for CHWs, and contributing to health equity.
After the program:
- A statewide coalition and Stakeholder Advisory Board will be established and actively engaged in moving the needle forward regarding the CHW workforce in Alabama
- 170 individuals will have been trained (130 new CHW trainees, 40 upskilled CHWs)
- The CHW training curriculum will be revised to mirror established competencies more closely
- At least 75% of new CHW trainees will gain on-the-job work experience, with at least 25% placed in a registered apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Application
What the program offers:
- Opportunity for increased wages
- Paired Mentors to guide you throughout the apprenticeship with their experience and expertise in the field.
- Training and education to certify you as a Community Health Worker at no cost!
Eligibility
- Must be at least 16 years of age and provide appropriate verification of
age respecting Alabama state laws - Be a United States citizen or a foreign national having possession of a
visa permitting permanent residence in the United States - Must have a high school diploma, GED, or other high school equivalency credential
Interested Employers
Are you an organization that would like to employ a CHW and become a registered apprenticeship employer? Please fill out the interest form below, and a representative from the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship will contact you!
Interest Form
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3 million. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.