Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Institute
Our Programs
For more information
Contact Bel Flores floresb3@uthscsa.edu 361-881-8133


The AHEC Promotores of South Texas Training Program is certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) as a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Training program. The program was developed to train CHWs/Promotores to help bridge the healthcare gap for our rural and underserved communities with an overarching goal of a healthier community. The program is head quartered at the South Coastal AHEC and is directed by Belinda Flores.
Opportunities offered include: 160-hour CHW Certification course and CE programming tailored to meet the needs of the community. The program is available in 26 counties serviced by Southwest Border AHEC, LRGV AHEC and South Coastal AHEC.
Upon graduation from the CHW Certification Program, certified community health workers have worked in a variety of settings including:
- Health promotion projects
- County health departments
- Hospitals and clinics
- Non-profit organizations
For more information, contact Belinda Flores by email at FloresB3@uthscsa.edu or 361-881-8133
Project ECHO Brain Health for Community Health Workers
Launched in 2022, Project ECHO Brain Health for Community Health Workers (CHWs) is an 8-session program conducted via video conferencing with session lengths ranging from 1.5 – 2 hours each, once per week. Created by researchers, healthcare providers, and CHWs, the curriculum is designed to promote brain health, discuss risk factors for dementia, address challenges experienced by persons living with dementia and their families, advocate for family-centered care, identify resources, and address barriers to participation in research. For questions regarding this program, please complete this interest form to be added to an invitation for upcoming sessions: Project ECHO Brain Health Interest Form
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW) / Promotores De Salud?
A Community Health Worker (CHW) who, with or without compensation, is a liaison and provides cultural mediation between health care, social services and the community. A promotor(a) or community health worker: is a trusted member, and has a close understanding of, the ethnicity, language, socio-economic status, and life experiences of the community served. A promotor(a) or community health worker assists people to gain access to needed services and builds individual, community, and system capacity. They help increase health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, patient navigation and follow-up, community health education and information, informal counseling, social support, advocacy, and participation in clinical research.
Texas CHW Certification Requirements
Community Health Workers (CHWs), or promotores de salud, are non-medical public health workers who connect communities to health care and social service providers. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) established the CWH program, in accordance with Health and Safety Code Chapter 48, to operate a program designed to train and educate persons who act as promotoras or CHWs.
CHWs demonstrate skills in the eight core competencies and must meet the following certification requirements:
• Texas resident
• Must be 16 year old
• Training – Completion of an approved DSHS certified 160-hour competency-based Community Health Worker training program. OR Experience – At least 1000 cumulative hours of community health work services within the most recent three (3) years. Experience will be verified with the supervisor(s) noted in the application.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
• Courses: In-person and ZOOM
• 160-hour curriculum
• All 8 competencies will be covered: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Service coordination, Capacity Building, Advocacy Skills, Teaching Skills, Organizational Skills and Knowledge
• 40 lessons – 5 lessons for each of the competencies required by the state.
• Homework – There will be homework that will be assigned.
• Participation – This is an interactive course. You will be required to input and share ideas and thoughts with the class.
• Presentation – A final presentation will be required to be given orally.
• State Application – All state paperwork will be due by the end of the course and will be submitted for certification.
• Classes – Class times will vary but will be determined by the class start date.
• Completion – Participants will be presented with a completion certificate.
Testimonials
“Receiving my CHW certification and trainings has given me the confidence to advocate for my community.”~ Carmen Acosta, CHW, LRGV AHEC
“For my first time taking the CHW training, I did not know what to expect, in fact I was a bit nervous. As the instructors started, my nerves calmed down as I was tuned into the information they were giving us. The whole training was not what I expected, I came out more well informed on a topic I had just heard about. Day 1 was a cinch, and felt as if we were done in no time.” ~ Amy De La Garza, Southwest Border AHEC
I just want to say that my experience with the CHW course I took was great. The information and materials that were provided and the knowledge of the instructor as well as the enthusiasm made me want to become the best CHW I could be. I appreciate how we could all come together and share our experiences as well as getting great advice from our instructor as to how to be a great CHW. By taking this course it has helped me take this knowledge and advance in my current job as a CHW. I highly recommend for people to take the CHW course and if possible have the same instructor as I did to receive the best advice to further their career. ~ Marcie Wright-Stejskal, South Coastal AHEC