Become a Community Health Worker.
Neighbors helping neighbors — trained, trusted, and paid to walk alongside families in Angelina and Nacogdoches counties.
Classes begin October 2026
Our first Community Health Worker cohort runs 24 weeks for 300 total hours, taught in person in Lufkin. Seats are limited, and registration does not guarantee placement in a cohort.
Start date
October 2026
Length
24 weeks
Classroom hours
200 hours
Field hours
100 hours
Classes meet in person at 2306 West Frank Ave, Ste E, Lufkin, TX 75904
Your community already trusts you. Let's build on that.
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline neighbor trained to connect people with healthcare, food, housing, and hope. You don't need a medical degree — you need a heart for people and a willingness to learn. We'll teach you the rest.
Serve with purpose
Walk families through the moments that matter most.
Learn in community
Small cohorts, real mentors, real stories.
Open new doors
A recognized pathway into healthcare & social work.
What you'll learn — 10 modules
Our curriculum follows the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) CHW Core Competencies. Graduates are prepared to sit for state certification as a Community Health Worker.
Communication Skills
Verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, health literacy and plain language, case notes, and working with qualified interpreters.
Interpersonal and Relationship-Building Skills
Cultural humility, motivational interviewing, professional boundaries, confidentiality, and the CHW code of ethics.
Service Coordination and Navigation Skills
Resource mapping, warm handoffs, referrals, outreach, and follow-through with clinical and community partners.
Capacity-Building Skills
Community assessment, leadership development, support groups, and helping neighbors solve problems themselves.
Advocacy Skills
Organizing, mandatory reporting, policy awareness, and speaking up for individuals and communities.
Teaching and Education Skills
Adult learning, group facilitation, curriculum planning, and evaluating behavior-change outcomes.
Organizational Skills
Goal-setting, time management, safe practice, and documentation within legal and organizational guidelines.
Knowledge Base on Specific Health Issues
Chronic disease, mental health, maternal and child health, and staying current on the issues affecting our neighbors.
Social Determinants of Health
CaiLan enrichment module: housing, food, transportation, employment, and the everyday conditions that shape whether people can be well.
Evaluation and Research Skills
Distinguishing program evaluation from research, logic models, data reliability and validity, correlation versus causation, and evaluating source credibility for evidence-based practice.
Modules 1–8 and 10 mirror the DSHS CHW Core Competencies. Module 9 is our CaiLan enrichment module on the Social Determinants of Health.
Already enrolled?
Full lessons, quizzes, and assignments for each module are in the student portal. Sign in to pick up where you left off.
Go to the student portalRegister Today
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