Community Health Worker Training

Community Health Workers (CHW) play a unique role in health care research. The JWI is a leader in training and involvement of CHWs on a wide range of research and health education projects. We are an active member of the Florida Coalition of Community Health Workers, and are involved in CHW at the national level.

The JWI is an Approved Educational Provider for CHW Certification. The training we provide covers five of the domains established by the Florida Certification Board: (1) Foundations of Public Health, (2) Communication and Education, (3) Resources, (4) Advocacy, and (5) Professional Responsibility.

This certification is granted by the state of Florida Certification Board and allows the JWI to provide CHWs with key training opportunities that will address health disparities and the impact of these disparities on the communities they serve. Trainings are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole in person or via online modules. These training opportunities will count towards the requirements of becoming a Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW). For more information regarding our CCHW training curriculum or for training requests please contact Dinah Trevil at dtrevil@med.miami.edu.

Pi Bone Se Gramn Maten – Flip chart for training CHWs on early detection of cervical cancer in Haitian Creole and English. Developed by Dr. Erin Kobetz. Also available through CES4Health.info

Jay Weiss Institute for Health Equity Pathway in Social Medicine

The JWI Pathway in Social Medicine program exposes medical students to social medicine and health disparities and its applications for community-based research, service, advocacy and clinical care. It includes didactic, scholarly and experiential components that involve weekly seminars and case discussions, community-based projects, and Grand Rounds. Students also conduct community-based research, service or advocacy projects, and work with faculty and community partners to complete the Caring for Communities through Free Clinics course. The program’s goals are:

• To understand the social determinants of health, including institutional and societal barriers to providing care for underserved communities
• To review the evidence base for reducing health disparities, including the role of health systems, community-based organizations and healthy policies
• To develop community competency among students
• To address health inequities in our communities through community-based participatory research, service and advocacy

Application to the JWI Pathways Program is open to University of Miami medical students in the fall of their first year. For more information, contact Dr. Sonjia Kenya.