Revised South Carolina Community Health Worker Certification Process

Since 2012 there has been a training program and Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification process through the South Carolina Technical School System. It was based on a training program that included the core competencies for CHWs at the time. Because there was a growing need for CHW training, it became the de facto CHW Certification process in South Carolina.

Much has happened in the past seven years. The Community Health Worker profession is rapidly growing in the country and in South Carolina. In 2016 the Community Health Worker Core Consensus Project (C3) expanded and revised the National Core Competencies for CHWs.
While several hundred CHWs have been certified in SC, urgent issues were recognized, including a process for other organizations to have the ability to train CHWs, recertification of CHWs, reciprocity, specialization training and the need for supervisor training.

In 2017, during its Strategic Planning Process, the South Carolina Community Health Worker Association (SCCHWA) and stakeholder partners determined that the CHW credentialing process needed to be revised.

South Carolina Community Health Worker Credentialing Council

The South Carolina Community Health Worker Credentialing Council (SCCHWCC) was established and has been working since March 2019. It is comprised of representatives of SCCHWA, Community Health Worker Institute, SC DHEC, SC DHHS, SC AHEC and BlueCross BlueShield of SC.

SCCHWCC has revised the Core Competencies and the process for training CHWs in South Carolina effective November 1, 2019.

Requirements

Any organization may submit a CHW curricula to SCCHWCC for approval.

SCCHWCC and SCCHWA are very pleased to take this step forward to ensure that South Carolina has the best trained, best supported Community Health Worker workforce in the country!

We are excited to begin the process of accepting and reviewing CHW curriculum that meet the new Core Competencies and training requirements. This will be a bit of a learning process for all of us.
If you have questions, please email credential.council@scchwa.org.

CORE CREDENTIALS

1. Communication skills
1.1 Use language confidently
1.2 Use language in ways that engage and motivate
1.3 Communicate using plain and clear language
1.4 Communicate with empathy
1.5 Use active listening skills
1.6 Prepare written communication including electronic communication
(e.g., email, telecommunication device for the deaf)
1.7 Document work
1.8 Use culturally appropriate communication skills when serving the community

2. Interpersonal and Relationship-Building Skills
2.1 Provide coaching and social support
2.2 Conduct self-management coaching
2.3 Use interviewing techniques (e.g. motivational interviewing)
2.4 Work as a team member
2.5 Manage conflict
2.6 Practice cultural humility

3. Service Coordination and Navigation skills
3.1 Coordinate care (including identifying and accessing resources and overcoming barriers)
3.2 Conduct appropriate referrals
3.3 Facilitate development of an individual and/or group action plan and goal attainment
3.4 Coordinate CHW activities with clinical and other community services
3.5 Track care and referral outcomes

4. Capacity Building Skills
4.1 Facilitate goal identification and maximize personal development of others
4.2 Facilitate individual empowerment
4.3 Network and build community connections
4.4 Teach self-advocacy skills
4.5 Describe Community organizing

5. Advocacy Skills
5.1 Advocate for individuals and communities

6. Education and Facilitation Skills
6.1 Use empowering and learner-centered teaching strategies
6.2 Use a range of appropriate and effective educational techniques
6.3 Identify differences between teacher-centered and learner-centered instruction
6.5 Seek out appropriate information and respond to questions about pertinent topics
6.6 Identify and share requested information
6.7 Collaborate with other educators
6.8 Collect and use information from and with community members

7. Individual and Community Assessment skills
7.1 Participate in individual assessment through observation and active inquiry
7.2 Participate in community assessment through observation and active inquiry

8. Outreach skills
8.1 Conduct case-finding, recruitment and follow-up
8.2 Prepare and disseminate materials
8.3 Build a current resources inventory

9. Professional Skills and Conduct
9.1 Set goals, develop and follow a work plan
9.2 Balance priorities and manage time
9.3 Apply critical thinking techniques and problem solving
9.4 Use appropriate technology
9.5 Pursue continuing education and life-long learning opportunities
9.6 Maximize personal safety while working in community and/or clinical settings
9.7 Observe ethical and legal standards (e.g. CHW Code of Ethics, Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA], Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA])
9.8 Identify situations calling for mandatory reporting and carry out mandatory reporting requirements
9.9 Participate in professional development of peer CHWs and in networking among CHW groups
9.10 Establish personal boundaries and practice self-care
9.11 Participate in continuous quality improvement

10. Evaluation and Research Skills
10.1 Identify important concerns and better understand root causes
10.2 Recognize the evidence-based practices of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Participatory Action Research (PAR)
10.3 Participate in evaluation and research processes including:
10.3i Identify priority issues

11. Knowledge Base
11.1 Describe social determinants of health, related disparities, and the concept of health equity.
11.2 Describe pertinent health issues
11.3 Describe healthy lifestyles and self-care
11.4 Describe mental/behavioral health issues and their connection to physical health
11.5 Describe health behavior theories
11.6 Describe basic public health principles
11.7 Describe the community served (including assets)
11.8 Describe the United States health and social service system

Adopted 8.19