Tufts COHERE Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a CHW?
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are members of their communities, whose role is to connect other community members to health care systems, state health departments and social services. CHWs are advocates for their community and play an important role in improving the quality of, and access to health care, providing cultural understanding and enhancing communications between communities and healthcare services.
2. How does one become a MA state certified CHW?
The CHW Training and Work Experience Pathway which requires the applicant’s successful completion of a Board Approved CHW Education and Training program as well as demonstration of at least 2,000 hours of CHW work over the past 10 years.
3. Is Tufts COHERE a Board Approved CHW Education and Training program?
Yes! Tufts COHERE program is approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boards of Certification of Community Health Workers as a certified training program as of August 2022.
4. What format will the training program be offered?
The training sessions are a mix of virtual and in-person sessions. In addition, there will be asynchronous learning activities and projects assigned outside of live sessions.
5. What are the details of the training program?
- Track 1: New CHWs consists of 80 hours of training delivered over 11 weeks between January to April or August to November. The trainees participate in virtual and in-person training sessions for 5 hours per week. This is typically 3-hours Tuesday evenings 6-9 pm via Zoom and 5-hours on Saturday mornings 9am-2:30pm. First and third Saturdays will be in-person and the remaining Saturdays are on Zoom. Detailed training schedules will be posted.
- Track 2: Upskilling CHWs consists of 40 hours of training delivered over 11 weeks between February to May (offered only in the Spring). The trainees participate in virtual and in-person training sessions. This is typically 3-hours Tuesday evenings 6-9 pm via Zoom and 5-hours on Saturday mornings 9am-2:30pm. First and third Saturdays will be in-person and the remaining Saturdays are on Zoom. Detailed training schedules will be posted.
6. Where will in-person sessions take place?
The in-person training will be held on the Tufts University School of Medicine campus on Harrison Avenue in Boston, MA. We are accessible via MBTA—South Station (red line), Tufts Medical Center (orange line), Boylston (green line), and silver line that stops in front of Tufts Medical Center.
7. Is there financial assistance for this program?
Yes, tuition will be covered by Tufts University for the Fall 2024 program. There will also be a stipend for each eligible trainee. For more information, visit the specific pages for each track.
8. What are the stipend eligibility requirements?
Due to the nature of the training program’s funding, to receive a stipend you must be a citizen of the US or a foreign national having a visa permitting permanent residence in the US.
9. How are stipends distributed?
Stipends will be evenly distributed across 10 months. For example, a total stipend of $7,500 for Track 1 will be divided into a monthly stipend of $750 for 10 months. The first stipend will be distributed within a month of the first class.
10. After completing Track 1, do I go onto Track 2?
Track 2 is designed to upskill board certified CHWs who may need continuing education hours to renew their certification. If you are a state board certified CHW, you are welcome to apply to our Track 2 regardless of whether or not you completed COHERE Track 1.