Certificate of Completion (COC)
Community, Health, and Wellness Advocate
About the Program
The Community, Health, and Wellness Advocate (CHWA) is a multi-skilled care manager who helps the patient navigate the complex maze of health and social service providers to find appropriate care. The CHWA educates patients and family members about healthy behaviors, monitors compliance with care management plans, and can accompany a patient on healthcare appointments. The advocate fosters mutual trust with a patient to develop an on-going professional relationship. Health and Wellness Advocates are required to have a wide-ranging skill set and knowledge base. Through a solid foundation in medical ethics and cultural awareness, the CHWA addresses the physical health, mental health, drug use, and social factors affecting a patient's health and wellness. The advocate must be familiar with the appropriate local, state, regional, and national agencies available to assist the patient, including familiarity with health information systems and healthcare funding.
For a roadmap that identifies the preferred sequencing of courses and other specific recommendations from faculty, please see the corresponding program map(s):
Certificate Requirements
Total credits required to earn this certificate: 18 and pass each course listed in the program requirements with a C or better.
LCC students must meet distribution requirements for associate degrees and specific certificates. See Diversity and Distribution Lists for more information.
Program Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Number of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AH 166 | Mental Health First Aid for Adults | 1 |
| CS 110 | Intro to Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| BTEC 165 | Cultural Awareness for Care Professionals: DIV | 5 |
|
BTEC 170 |
Community Health Advocacy |
5 |
|
BTEC 181 OR |
Medical Terminology I OR |
3 |
| HLTH 105 | First Aid, CPR and Bloodborne Pathogens | 1 |
Program Outcomes
Students completing this program should acquire the following skills and abilities:
- Utilize a clinical decision support tool and electronic health records to view cross-system health and social service utilization to identify care opportunities
- Provide in-person client health assessments
- Accompany the client to critical appointments
- Engage the client in developing a health action plan
- Coordinate and mobilize treating/authorizing entities as necessary to reinforce and support the client’s health action goals
- Deliver culturally appropriate interventions, educational and informational materials
Notes
Revised August 2022 (effective Summer 2023)
Consult an advisor if you have any questions.