Chronic Condition & Lifestyle Management, Community Health Worker Track

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification Program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) prepares individuals to support patients and communities through evidence‑based communication, care coordination, health coaching, and patient navigation. This two‑part training pathway builds foundational skills in person‑centered communication, chronic condition and lifestyle management, and addressing social determinants of health, while equipping learners with strategies to help individuals overcome barriers to care. The program emphasizes approaches that promote sustainable behavior change, strengthen self‑management skills, and empower individuals to more confidently navigate health and social services, supporting meaningful, lasting improvements in community health and well‑being.

In conjunction with the Motivational Interviewing Certification course, this course provides a certification as a Community Health Worker through UTHSC. It is suggested that the motivational interviewing course be taken first. This course offers an introduction to behavior change theory, chronic condition management, lifestyle management, health coaching strategies, and professional standards for Community Health Workers.

 Credit Hours: 12 Hours  

 Target Audience: This program is designed primarily for individuals with at least a high‑school education who seek to work full‑ or part‑time as community health workers, care coordinators, patient navigators, or health coaches in clinical, community, or public health settings. The program also welcomes lay and professional non‑clinical staff and clinical healthcare workers at all levels, as the training provides valuable skills for delivering person‑centered, culturally responsive support to individuals and families.

 Description: This program is comprised of two courses, the Motivational Interviewing Certification and the Chronic Condition & Lifestyle Management Certification (Community Health Worker Track). This interactive, self‑paced program provides an overview of Motivational Interviewing; an introduction to the CHW role; care coordination and patient navigation; social determinants of health; behavior change theory; chronic condition self‑management best practices; and lifestyle management strategies. The program emphasizes evidence-based skills that qualify you to help patients navigate the healthcare system, address barriers to care, and improve their ability to access needed services. Certification is added to the UTHSC registry and remains active for three years.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate foundational competency in Motivational Interviewing (MI) by applying MI spirit, core principles, microskills, and the engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning tasks to elicit change talk and respond skillfully to ambivalence in Community Health Worker (CHW) practice.
• Apply Motivational Interviewing strategies in structured practice settings by distinguishing change talk and sustain talk, recognizing discord and the fixing reflex, constructing effective reflections, and engaging in role‑play to support behavior change, outreach interactions, and professional skill development as a CHW.
• Explain the role of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in health and well‑being and apply the Community Health Worker role in SDOH screening, outreach, advocacy, referral, and system navigation using person‑centered, culturally responsive, and ethically appropriate strategies to identify and address social needs.
• Describe key behavior change principles, theories, and models relevant to Community Health Worker practice, including their application in outreach, education, navigation, advocacy, and capacity‑building activities.
• Identify common chronic conditions, including a general overview of causes, symptoms, treatment approaches, and lifestyle considerations, within the Community Health Worker scope of practice.
• Summarize foundational lifestyle management concepts related to physical activity, nutrition, sleep, substance use, stress and anxiety, and weight management as they relate to community education, prevention, and support.
• Apply evidence‑based behavior change strategies by supporting self‑efficacy, encouraging self‑monitoring, guiding problem‑solving, facilitating goal‑setting, increasing self‑awareness, and leveraging social support to build individual and community capacity.
• Describe legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities of Community Health Workers, including confidentiality (e.g., HIPAA), scope of practice, ethical standards, professionalism, documentation, and accountability to the communities served.
• Demonstrate effective integration of Community Health Worker tools and strategies through a final applied case study that includes outreach, navigation, advocacy, documentation, and basic data collection or evaluation activities reflective of real‑world CHW roles.

 Learning Design: Didactic lectures, practice activities, video clips, partner/peer activities, Motivational Interviewing Competency Exam, feedback on assignments, knowledge checks, and a case study final exam.

Passing Requirements: Completion of all modules, satisfactory completion of assignments, and passing scores on both the competency‑based activity and the case study exam.

Certification Levels Provided: All those completing course requirements will be certified as a Level 1 (Client-centered) or Level 2 (Proficient) CHW based on their completed MI competency assessment.

 Fee: $450. We offer discounts to our research and community partners, as well as for volume. Contact Dr. Amanda Gabarda at [email protected] with inquiries.

Contact us: Email Amanda Gabarda at [email protected] for more details.