Purpose of Certifying Training Programs

  • Individual certification for community health workers (CHWs) began in Missouri in December, 2019. At the time individual certification was enacted there were four sites across the state offering CHW training using the current “state approved” CHW curriculum (developed based on the Foundations for Community Health Workers textbook).
  • Training Program Certification is designed to expand the number of sites and organizations offering high-quality CHW training throughout the state. Expansion will allow the CHW curriculum to be accessible to as many CHWs as possible and help support the growth of the CHW workforce in Missouri.

Overview

  • Training Program Certification will be overseen by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). At present, the Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Disease Control located in the Section for Community Health Services and Initiatives will maintain all aspects of Training Program Certification.
  • Below are the steps a Training Program will go through to become a certified Training Program and how to maintain Training Program Certification.
    • Initial applications will be on this website by May 1.
    • There is no application fee.
    • Applications to become a new Certified Training Program will be available each year from May 1 to June 30. 
    • All organizations interested in becoming a Certified Training Program will be required to apply, regardless of whether they have conducted training previously.
    • Complete applications will be submitted to the DHSS via mail: Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Disease Control, Attn:  Community Health Worker Program, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or email chw@health.mo.gov
    • Applications will be reviewed by a committee of three people overseen by Missouri DHSS using a rubric for scoring. Two committee members will be from DHSS and one will be a representative of the CHW Association of Missouri Board.
    • Once the application period closes, DHSS will review all applications and share results with each program by August 1st.  Programs will maintain their current status until they receive information from DHSS about changes to their status.
    • Applicants that apply and do not receive Training Program Certification will have to re-apply the following year.  Those that do not receive certification will receive feedback on how to improve so they can potentially be approved in the future.
    • Applicants that apply and receive Training Program Certification will receive a letter stating the date and timeframe of certification, along with instructions for maintaining their status.  Once certified, Training Programs will maintain certification for three years.  After that time, a renewal application will need to be submitted.  Maintaining certification will involve providing semi-annual reports and a renewal application.
    • DHSS will maintain a list of certified Training Programs which are posted below.  DHSS will provide Training Program Certification reports that break down approved training programs by region to the CHW Association of Missouri Board and State Advisory Board, as needed.
  • Below is an overview of how the CHW Curriculum Provider Certification is integrated as part of Missouri’s CHWs Credentialing strategy, including how Training Programs support individual CHW Credentialing.
    • Individuals who wish to be a credentialed CHW in the state of Missouri will be required to attend a training program through a Certified CHW Curriculum Provider. 
    • Once the CHW has completed training through a Certified CHW Curriculum Provider, they will receive a certificate of completion.
    • The CHW will be responsible for the following:
    • Applying for individual Credentialing through the Missouri Credentialing Board. Information about individual CHW Certification can be found here https://missouricb.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/CHW-May-2020.pdf 
    • Completing continuing education and other requirements in order to maintain their status as a State Credentialed CHW.

steps to certification

Application for Missouri Training Program Certification

Application for Certification

 

May 1

June 30

August 1

New Training Program Applications

New Training Program Application Available

New Training Program Applications Due

New Training Programs Receive Notice of Status

Note: To ensure the highest quality CHW training, we have implemented a maximum number of Certified Curriculum Providers per region. In addition, if a Certified Curriculum Provider has not offered a class within the past two years, they will automatically be removed from the list of Certified Curriculum Providers and required to submit a new application during the following cycle.

Total number of Curriculum Providers Per Region:

  • Kansas City: 6
  • St. Louis: 6
  • Southwest: 3
  • Southeast: 2
  • Northwest: 2
  • Northeast: 2
  • Central: 2
  • Online Only: 3

The list of current Certified Curriculum Providers can be found here.

Overview

  • The application for Training Program Certification will be available beginning May 1, 2021.
  • All organizations interested in becoming a state approved Training Program must submit an application regardless of current status and whether they have previously offered the approved CHW curriculum in the past.
  • Applications to become a new Training Program are due by June 30th each year and can be submitted to the Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Disease Control, Attn: Community Health Worker Program, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or email chw@health.mo.gov.
  • Applications will be reviewed by a committee of three people overseen by Missouri DHSS using a rubric for scoring. Two committee members will be from DHSS and one will be a representative of the CHW Association of Missouri Board.
  • Once the application period closes, DHSS will review all applications and share the results of the Training Program Certification review with each program by August 1st.  Programs will maintain their current status until they receive information from the Department of Health and Senior Services about changes to their status.
  • The committee of three individuals will review applications based on the rubric provided. Applicants who receive a score of 32 or higher will be approved as a State Certified Training Program. Programs who receive a score below 32 will not be approved and should reapply the following year.
  • All Training Programs will receive written feedback (see rubric) about their program.
  • Applicants that apply and receive Training Program Certification will receive a certificate stating the date and timeframe of certification, along with instructions for maintaining their training status.

Maintaining Training Program Certification

  • Once approved Training Program Certification is good for three years (e.g., a site that applies in May 2021 will need to apply for a renewal in May 2024).
  • Certified Training Programs will be required to submit a semi-annual Report to the DHHS (see “Semi-Annual Report” section below for more details). This semi-annual report is due by June 30th or January 15th of each year. Programs that are applying for renewal are required to submit both an annual report and renewal application.
  • Certified Training Programs will receive a reminder by May 1st each year describing the requirements to maintain Training Program Certification (either annual report or annual report and renewal application)
  • Training Programs that are providing semi-annual reports will receive a notice from DHSS about their ongoing Training Program Certification status by August 1st or February 1st of each year. Programs will maintain their current status until they receive information from the Department of Health and Senior Services about changes to their status.
    • If a program fails to submit a semi-annual report, Training Program Certification status could be revoked or suspended.
  • Training Programs submitting renewal applications will receive a reminder from DHSS about their renewal application by May 1st of the renewal year (3 years after initial application).

Semi-Annual Report

 

May 1

June 30

August 1

Spring/Summer Semi-Annual Reports (also required in renewal year)

Semi-Annual Reports available and reminders sent to existing Training Programs

Spring/Summer Semi-Annual Reports Due

Programs receive notice of status regarding Semi-Annual Report 

 

December 1

January 15

February 1

Fall/Winter Semi-Annual Reports

Semi-Annual Reports available and reminders sent to existing Training Programs

Fall/Winter Semi-Annual Reports Due

Program receive notice of status regarding Semi-Annual Report 

Note: In first year (2021), any approved Training Program that received less than 3 on the Qualification of Trainers section of the application will be required to send trainers to a state-approved Train the Trainer and provide documentation in their semi-annual report

Note: In addition to the semi-annual reports, there will be at least one unannounced quality assurance visit for each certified training program within the three year cycle.

Semi-Annual Reports Application

Overview

  • All State Approved Training Programs will be required to provide semi-annual reports yearly, as outline above. Reminders about Spring/Summer reports will be sent on May 1st each year, with a due date of June 30th.  Programs will receive notice of their status on August 1st. Fall/Winter report reminders will be sent on December 1st each year, with a due date of January 15th.  Programs will receive notice of status of the report by February 1st. 
  • Annual Reports are due to the DHSS by the specified due date. They must be returned to: Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Disease Control, Attn: Community Health Worker Program, PO Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or Email:  chw@health.mo.gov.  Failure to submit a semi-annual report may result in revocation of certification.
  • Reports will be reviewed by DHSS staff.
  • Please note that in addition to the semi-annual reports, DHSS may conduct at least one unannounced quality assurance visit for each certified training program within the three year cycle.

Renewal

 

May 1

June 30

August 1

Renewal (every 3 years)

Renewal application available and reminders sent to existing Training Programs

Renewal Due (along with semi-Annual Report)

Program receives notice of status regarding renewal application

Note: Renewal application will begin in 2024
Training Programs applying for renewal will be required to document qualification of trainers and any new trainers will be required to complete Train the Trainer program.

Training Program Evaluation Criteria

Training Program Evaluation Criteria Application

  • All Training Programs applying to become a Certified Training Program will be evaluated using an application (see Application for Missouri Training Program Certification section). These applications will be processed and evaluated by DHSS. 
  • Applications will be reviewed by a committee of three people overseen by Missouri DHSS. Two committee members will be from DHSS and one will be a representative of the CHW Association of Missouri Board. All representatives will independently review and score applications based on the rubric provided. Scores will be reviewed independently, with scores of 32 or higher being considered “approved” and those below 32 not approved will be required to re-apply the following year. Discrepancies between reviewer scores will be discussed among the three reviewers. If agreement cannot be made among reviewers, the application will be taken to the CHW Association of Missouri Board for discussion and a final decision will be made.
  • All approved Training Programs will be posted on the DHSS website and reports will be made available to the CHW Association of Missouri Board and the Statewide CHW Advisory Committee.

Trainer Requirements and Train the Trainer Course Availability

  • Trainer program requirements apply to both instructors of record and co-instructors for a course. These requirements do not apply for guest speakers.
  • New Training Program Certification
    • The initial Training Program Certification application requires applicant programs provide a description of individual’s qualifications related to training CHWs. This is required for every individual offering training through the Training Program. Qualifications include: 
      • Years working in the CHW (or related) field
      • Years training CHWs
      • Record of completing State-approved Train the Trainer (beginning 2022)
        • The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services offers Train the Trainer program for free to any individual who is planning to offer a state-approved CHW curriculum. The online portion of the program is available through the following https://health.mo.gov/professionals/community-health-workers/modules.php and can be completed at your own pace. In order to complete the training, individuals must complete the online portion of the course AND attend required in-person session(s). These will be offered at least once per quarter. The first course will be offered in the third quarter of 2021.  Interested individuals must email chw@health.mo.gov to sign up and participate in the in-person portion of the Train the Trainer.
        • Once an individual has completed the in-person section of the course, they will receive a certificate of completion.  DHSS will keep record of individuals who have completed this course. In order to quality to take the Train the Trainer course individuals need to meet one of the following criteria:
          • Field experience: Minimum of 2 years of community health experience AND completed a CHW training course
          • Education experience: Minimum of bachelor’s degree in community health, public health, social work, nursing, or related field
    • All trainers working in a Training Program that is approved during 2021 will automatically be grandfathered in and will not be required to complete a Train the Trainer course. The state will maintain a list of trainers who are either grandfathered in (2021) and who have successfully completed the state-approved Train the Trainer beginning in 2022.
  • Semi-Annual Reports
    • In the first year (2021), any approved Training Program that receives less than a 3 in the Qualifications of Trainers section of the application will be required to send trainers to a state-approved Train the Trainer and provide documentation in their semi-annual report.
  • Renewals
    • Training Programs applying for renewal (earliest renewal date is 2024) will be required to document the qualifications of trainers. Any new trainers will be required to complete a Train the Trainer course prior to delivering the course.
    • Renewal applications will include a description of how trainers are maintaining their training skills through continuous learning opportunities.