Minimum Standards for Full Approval

The Board may grant full approval status to a Community Health Worker Education and Training Program provided that the Board determines that the program meets the following minimum standards: (1) Program Mission and Governance. (a) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall have and operate in accordance with a mission statement that recognizes and supports the history and purpose of the community health worker workforce. (b) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall be organized independently of any other education and training program offered by the parent institution. (c) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall employ practices and methodologies that are: 1. inclusive and accessible to individuals with different learning styles, educational backgrounds and student needs, including but not limited to disability; 2. consistent with the diversity principles and cultural competency that drives community health work. (d) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall be affiliated with a parent institution. The parent institution shall appoint a competent administrator and shall provide the administrator with adequate resources to effectively administer the program. The resources shall be sufficient to allow the program to: 1. offer a curriculum that meets the requirements at 272 CMR 5.03(3); 2. maintain an adequate number of instructors who meet the faculty requirements at 272 CMR 5.03(4); and 3. maintain ongoing fiscal health to ensure that the program will not be discontinued before a cohort of students who have commenced the curriculum have had adequate time to complete it. (e) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall award a certificate of completion to students who successfully complete the program. (f) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall publish current policies which describe the specific, non-discriminatory criteria for the following: 1. Admission into the program; credit transfer; attendance; withdrawal from the program, termination from the program, and re-admission into the program; 2. Documentation and record maintenance with respect to matriculation, attendance, faculty appointments, student performance and participation, and program completion by students; and 3. Student rights and grievances. (g) The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall maintain written policies for conducting the following: 1. Internal assessments designed to evaluate the program; and 2. Systematic and objective evaluation of students' acquisition of the knowledge and skills related to the ten core competencies for Community Health Workers specified in 272 CMR 5.03(3)(a) and specific health topics offered in the program's curriculum in accordance with 272 CMR 5.03(3)(b). (2) Compliance with State Regulation Governing For-profit and Occupational Schools. The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall demonstrate compliance with state laws and regulations governing For-profit and Occupational Schools by submitting the following with their application for full approval and as the Board may otherwise request: (a) Proof of licensure or exemption from licensure bythe Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) in accordance with M.G.L. c. 112, § 263 and 230 CMR 12.00 through 17.00; and (b) Attestation that the administrator has reviewed and understands the program's obligation to comply with 940 CMR 31.00: For Profit and Occupational Schools. (3) Curriculum. The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall consist of at least 80 hours of instruction. (a) At least 64 hours of instruction shall focus on the cultivation of knowledge and skills related to the following ten core competencies for community health workers: 1. Outreach Methods and Strategies; 2. Individual and Community Assessment; 3. Effective Communication; 4. Cultural Responsiveness and Mediation; 5. Education to Promote Healthy Behavior Change; 6. Care Coordination and System Navigation; 7. Use of Public Health Concepts and Approaches; 8. Advocacy and Community Capacity Building; 9. Documentation; and 10. Professional Skills and Conduct. (b) At least 16 hours of instruction shall focus on the cultivation of knowledge and skills related to one or more specific health topics relevant to community health work. (4) Faculty. The Community Health Worker Education and Training Program shall arrange to have the curriculum delivered by a faculty consisting of instructors who possess the knowledge, skills and competence to effectively teach a curriculum which meets the requirements of 272 CMR 5.03(3). At least 40% of the hours of instruction shall be taught or co-taught by faculty who are Community Health Workers or Community Health Worker Trainers.