Community Health Workers (CHW) Training Program

The CHW Program welcomes all pre-bachelor’s level participants. It is designed for the following individuals:

• Those who are currently employed as paraprofessionals and are interested in being certified as Community Health Workers.
• Individuals who have no experience as paraprofessionals but are seeking career ladder opportunities in behavioral health with a focus on children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth.
• Those who are interested in completing a year of training in integrated, team-based, behavioral health and primary care settings in unserved and underserved communities.

Yes, additional eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants need to have a high school diploma or GED, or an associate’s degree, or be currently enrolled in college but have not completed their bachelor’s degree.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and need to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.

• Completed application materials will be reviewed by the William James College staff.
• Eligible candidates will be invited for an initial interview with the program staff.
• The interview may be conducted in person or via Zoom.
• Qualified applicants will be recommended for a 2nd interview with their chosen field site/employer.
• During the application process, candidates will be asked to rank order their preferred field worksites. They will have the option of interviewing at up to three (3) agencies from the list of approved partners.
• Once all interviews are conducted, candidates will be informed via email of a final decision regarding the status of their application.

Program participants will be selected based on the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to serve as Community Health Workers or paraprofessionals and motivation to work with children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth with behavioral health challenges
• High levels of cultural awareness and responsiveness
• Underrepresentation in the behavioral health field (e.g., first-generation, low-income, etc.)
• Relevant language proficiency
• Strong interest in pursuing career ladder opportunities in the behavioral health field

The year-long work placement will be with a partnering behavioral health agency that works with unserved and underserved communities. Partnering agencies include:

• Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
• Child and Family Services
• Community Healthlink
• Justice Resource Institute
• Lynn Public Schools
• Northeast Family Services
• North Shore Community Health
• North Suffolk Mental Health Association
• Riverside Community Care
• The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health
• YOU, Inc. (an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation)

A focus of this work will be on increasing knowledge and understanding of the specific concerns of children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth in high need and high demand areas at risk for behavioral health disorders.

Participants should expect to:

• Complete a year-long field work experience as a full-time worker at an approved agency that serves children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth in high need and high demand areas.
• Provide team-based care as paraprofessionals in integrated behavioral health and primary care settings located in underserved communities.
• Participate in a Certificate Training Program for Community Health Workers co-led by Justice Resource Institute, and attend other professional development workshops.
• Earn 6 General Elective college credits (offered for free upon completion of this program).
• Meet all employer partners’ expectations and job requirements.
• Adhere to employers’ policies and procedures for professional conduct and ethical behavior.
• Comply with all agency partners' COVID-19 vaccination policies and protocols.
• Actively engage in program evaluation activities that are required by HRSA (i.e., complete surveys and other data collection measures in a timely manner).
• Obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number for data tracking purposes.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the CHW Program staff.
• Perform other tasks, as required by the CHW Program staff.