Track 1: COHERE Training Program for New CHW Trainees

The Tufts COHERE training program for new trainees will leverage the 10 Massachusetts core CHW competencies required for CHW certification to build a robust CHW workforce that improves the linguistic capacity and representation of marginalized communities within the City of Boston. COHERE trainees new to the CHW field will work individually and collaboratively during and after learning sessions to self-reflect, discuss, and practice their knowledge base and context. Additional areas of reflection and practice are public health, social determinants of health, cultural awareness, health literacy, emergency preparedness, health equity, COVID-19 prevention and vaccine hesitancy, HIV prevention, nutrition and food security, mental health, and health across lifespan.

The program consists of 80 hours of training delivered over 11 weeks to help trainees become certified CHWs. After the 11 weeks, trainees will stay engaged with us throughout the year. We will aim to train a cohort of 45-60 trainees annually to participate in virtual and in-person training sessions. In addition, there will be asynchronous learning activities assigned for completion outside of the live sessions.

The schedule for the Fall 2024 program will include Tuesday nights (6-9pm) via Zoom and Saturday mornings (9am-2:30pm) via a mix of Zoom and in-person sessions. (Specific dates will be detailed later.)

There will be $7,500 stipend available for each trainee that will be evenly distributed through the year. Stipend eligibility requirements and distributions are outlined under FAQs.

COHERE trainees will have mentors to provide advice on future public health career goals and identify potential internship sites and opportunities to complete the 2,000 internship hours. Mentors will be identified based upon trainees’ interests. After completing the full training program, trainees will also have the opportunity to apply for Track 3: Boston Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) Apprenticeship Program for the following year. Teaching, coaching, and mentoring involves developing clear, culturally competent learning objectives and curricula, providing comprehensive resources and training opportunities for COHERE trainees, modeling the process of effective learning, and conducting a process and outcomes evaluation whether learning occurred among recipients.

Eligibility requirements: 18 years or older

Please visit our applications page for more information.

Please email any questions to cohere@tufts.edu