BLOOMINGTON – Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington is now offering an 8-week, online human services course that leads to becoming a certified community health worker (CHW), credentialed by the Indiana Community Health Workers Association. Anyone can sign up for the HUMS 162 Community Health Worker course, including new and current students and classes begin January 16, 2024.
A CHW is a frontline public health worker who serves as a link between health and social services and helps increase knowledge and access for residents. They serve communities through outreach, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
“By successfully completing the course, students will be a certified community health worker,” Dr. Chelsea Rood-Emmick, Program Chair and Associate Professor of Human Services said. “Certification demonstrates the student has mastered the competencies needed to serve in the role.”
The CHW course can be used as a ramp to more education in the field and as an elective. Course credits count toward the new short-term certificate offering in Mental Health Direct Support and the long-term certificate in Human Services.
Ivy Tech Bloomington enrolls about 100 human services students annually. Graduates are prepared to go right to work or transfer to earn their bachelor’s in the field.
Ivy Tech Bloomington offers more than 40 career and four-year transfer programs, with courses that start multiple times per year for quick entry and graduation. To get started, apply for free online at ivytech.edu/bloomington, call 812-330-6013, or email askBloomington@ivytech.edu. For information on free, short-term training programs at Ivy Tech Bloomington, visit ivytech.edu/bloomington/NLJ.
