What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop and evaluate a bilingual community health worker training program that enhances core competencies and professional pathways.

May 9, 2026Journal of Clinical and Translational Science0 citationsOpen Access

202 Development and evaluation of a Bilingual Community Health Worker Certification Training Program: A pilot study

NWNicole WolfeUniversity of Southern California BDBrian Do-GoldenUniversity of Southern California MRMayra Rubio-DiazUniversity of Southern California

Key Points

To develop and evaluate a bilingual community health worker training program that enhances core competencies and professional pathways.
8-week hybrid training program with 40 hours total duration.
Participants (n=22) completed online and in-person sessions, including a final community-based project.
Evaluation included weekly surveys and pre–post assessments of knowledge and confidence.
Mean satisfaction rating was 3.8 out of 4.0.
Participants reported a +32.9% increase in knowledge and +36.1% in confidence across competencies.
Over 95% indicated they would apply their learned skills three months post-training.

Abstract

Objectives/Goals: To develop, pilot, and evaluate an accessible, Bilingual Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification Training Program that equips CHWs with core competencies, strengthens professional pathways, and supports integration into California’s evolving health and social care systems. Methods/Study Population: The 8-week, 40-hour hybrid program aligned with the CHW Core Consensus (C3) Project and California’s CalAIM standards. The pilot cohort (n=22) included Spanish-speaking Promotoras with 1–10 years of experience. The training combined online asynchronous modules, live weekly Zoom sessions, and in-person sessions at orientation and graduation. Participants completed weekly assignments and a final community-based project. Evaluation through weekly surveys and a retrospective pre–post evaluation assessing knowledge and confidence gains in addition to qualitative feedback were collected. A Steering Committee and a Community Advisory Board (CAB) provided guidance on curriculum design, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness. Results/Anticipated Results: The pilot achieved high satisfaction (mean 3.8/4.0). Participants reported an average +32.9% increase in perceived knowledge and +36.1% increase in confidence/self-efficacy across CHW competencies. The largest gains were in advocacy, resource navigation, and community assessment. Over 95% indicated they were likely to apply learned skills with only 5% who had yet to apply what they learned 3-months post-training. Qualitative feedback emphasized empowerment, peer learning, skill-building relevance, and remaining challenges related to advancement as CHWs. Participants valued the real-world application through a capstone community project. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This pilot demonstrates a scalable, culturally responsive CHW training model that builds professional confidence and readiness. Ongoing evaluation and expansion aim to strengthen the CHW workforce, open professional pathways, and create a sustainable model that advances public health by improving community capacity and health equity.

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