Community Health Integrated Service System

COMMUNITY HEALTH INTEGRATED SERVICE SYSTEM

Prince George’s County, MD Health Department’s (PGCHD) Community Health Integrated Service System (CHISS) staff and residents received training on community health worker (CHW) programs.

Trained new Community Health Workers in Prince George’s (PG) County, Maryland, on a 120-hour accredited CHW Core Skills Competency Curriculum with 40-hour practicum experience.

The Institute for Public Health Innovation’s Zee Turner Center for Community Health Workers trained 52 CHWs who are residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Community Health Integrated Service System (CHISS) staff and residents were ages 18 or older and came from diverse backgrounds, including low-income, Black, Hispanic, or foreign-born residents. The Zee Turner Center’s CHW Training team also conducted a Spanish training for residents whose English is not their first language. The training took place in person and virtually over 12 months. Multiple CHWs from this training received their Maryland CHW certification.

The newly trained CHWs also received Continuing Education Sessions to supplement their learning to support their soon-to-be clients in Mental Health First Aid, Navigating Prince George’s County Resources, Trust, Respect and Dignity for Citizens, and Outreach and Health Promotion.

In August 2025, IPHI received the Foundation of Partnerships’ “Cornerstone Award” during a CHISS appreciation celebration. IPHI was recognized for its support and hard work with the CHW Training Program.

For more information about the CHISS, visit: https://awpli.org.

To learn more about the Prince George’s County, MD Health Department (PGCHD) Community Health Integrated Service System training, please contact [email protected].

CHW Leadership Institute

The Institute for Public Health Innovation invites you to join our Community Health Worker (CHW) Leadership Institute—a FREE program designed to empower experienced and dedicated CHWs. The program will provide the skills and knowledge needed to take on leadership roles and influence community and system change.

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

Deadline to Apply:	December 8, 2024
Candidate Review & Selection:	Month of December 2024
Notification of Selected Applicants:	Mid - January 2025
Program Launch:	February 2025

ELIGIBILITY:

18 years and older

US Citizen or Permanent Resident authorized to work in the U.S.

High School Diploma or GED

Meet the following residency requirments
- District of Columbia – All Wards
- Maryland – Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Charles County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, St. Mary’s County
- Northern Virginia – Alexandria City, Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudon Counties

Previous formal CHW training in core competencies skills, and roles

Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience as a CHW

BY THE END OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE SIX-MONTH PROGRAM, YOU WILL:

Master Leadership Core Competencies

Boost Your Confidence in taking on new leadership roles and responsibilities

Expand Your Career Pathways with a deep understanding of how to apply leadership skills to pursue diverse opportunities

Grow Your Professional Network and connect with like-minded professionals

COURSE MODULES INCLUDE:

Personal Leadership: Discover your unique leadership style and strengths

Advanced Communication Skills: Hone your ability to lead through effective communication

Program Management: Learn to manage programs with efficiency and impact

Leading People and Projects: Master the art of leading teams and initiatives

Using Data for Continuous Improvement: Leverage data to drive success and improvement

Career Skills: Equip yourself with the tools to advance your career

KEY INFORMATION

Timeframe:	February - July (six months)
Time Commitment:	Students can anticipate dedicating approximately 60 hours total to the program (10 hours per month). This will look like four hours of classroom time per month + outside work.
# Of Students for 2025 Class:	10 - 15 students
Cost:	FREE!
Complete Application Process:	Online application Resume Two letters of recommendation Documentation of Completion from the CHW Core Competency training

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

We will continue to update Frequently Asked Questions as needed. Please review previous questions below to see if your question has been answered.

Can I apply if I am currently in CHW Core training?

Candidates should have completed CHW core competency training from an accredited training provider by the time the CHW Leadership Institute begins in February 2024. If you are currently enrolled in a training that will be completed by the end of January 2025, you may still apply and provide documentation from your training provider of enrollment and projected completion date. Preference will be given to candidates who have already completed training at the time of application.

Do I need to be certified to apply to the CHW Academy Leadership Institute?

You do not need to be certified to apply to the CHW Academy Leadership Institute. Certification is not available in Washington, DC, and we did not want any otherwise experienced CHW within that jurisdiction to feel they could not apply.  

I submitted my application but did not write down the details of the additional information requested. What else is needed to complete my application?

Your application is not considered complete until we have received the items below.

Resume

Please send a current resume.

Letters of Recommendation

Please submit two (2) letters of recommendation from people who can provide evidence demonstrating why you are a good candidate for this leadership program geared toward experienced community health workers.

If you are currently employed, at least one letter should be from an employer or supervisor. Letters can also come from people outside of those you work with through employment, such as representatives from volunteer work or community positions such as an advisory or community board. Select individuals who can attest to your leadership attributes and skills.

CHW Training Documentation

Please share your Certificate of Completion from the entity where you received your initial CHW Core Skills training. If you no longer have a Certificate of Completion or transcript, you may substitute it with a letter from your employer confirming that you have completed training from an accredited CHW training provider

What type of information are you looking for in the letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation for a leadership program should highlight aspects of your character, abilities, and potential, focusing on qualities that demonstrate readiness for leadership growth. A strong letter will provide specific qualities that set you up for success, show that you have the potential to excel and grow in your career with the support of a leadership program. Additional examples information you might ask the individual to include are:

An example of a time when you demonstrated that you had the skills and qualities of a leader

Observations of how you have worked with or led others to complete a shared goal

Confirm your track record of effective CHW practice

These are just suggestions and not requirements. We welcome other perspectives that might help the selection committee understand who you are as a CHW, and whether participation in the Leadership Institute will benefit not just you, but also the community that you serve.

How do I submit the supporting documentation requested in the online application?

Please send the additional documents requested to [email protected], with subject line: Leadership Institute – Supplemental Application Documents

Ready to Step into Leadership? Take the next step in your career with the CHW Leadership Institute and become a leader in your community!

Apply Today!

Do you have questions about the Leadership Institute? Please reach out to [email protected] and indicate “Leadership Institute Question” in the subject.

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3 million with 0 % financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

2025 Community Health Worker Continuing Education Trainings

Posted on June 14, 2024September 10, 2025 by iphiadmin

Stay updated with IPHI’s continuing education training scheduled! All training information can be found below:

August 2025

August 8: Vaccine Hesitancy | Register

August 6-7: Digital Literacy | Register

August 15: Emergency Response for CHWs | Register

August 22: CPR and AED | Register

August 29: Opioid Overdose Response Training | Register

Resources

Training Catalog

Community Health Worker Training

Training/Technical Assistance

Posted on February 6, 2023February 20, 2023 by iphiadmin

IPHI Hosts Maryland’s First Statewide Food Summit

IPHI hosted Maryland’s first statewide food summit, Developing a Maryland Food Charter: Statewide Summit, on October 15, 2015. The event included nearly 60 participants from all five regions of the state.

The summit focused on the following:

The current status of potential food systems issues at the state-level
An overview of the outcomes and themes that arose at the regional convenings
Finalizing and prioritizing the strategies across the five food system domains included in the Maryland Food Charter

What is the change you want to see?

A panel of experts answered this question from Grow & Fortify, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Maryland State Department of Education, and Center for a Livable Future. Their perspectives guided the development of the Maryland Food Charter.

All summit participants refined and strengthened strategies that were included in the first-ever food charter. They also assessed the feasibility of the collective action strategies.

To view and download the Maryland Food Charter, click: here.

Strengthening the CHW Workforce

Two men shaking hands while a family hugs in the background.

Strengthening the CHW Workforce

Policy initiatives to support the development, use, and finance of the community health worker (CHW) workforce.

The District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia stakeholders have worked to define the CHW scope of practice, core competencies, training requirements, make CHW certification recommendations, and finance preventive health services. IPHI has been highly involved in these efforts and is available to provide information or help organizations and localities get involved.

CHW workforce development in Virginia:

Resources:

Virginia CHW Registry

For additional information, see this Spring 2018 update on CHW certification.

To learn more about IPHI’s CHW policy work, please contact [email protected].

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Zee Turner Center

Zee Turner Center for Community Health Workers

The Zhilphia “Zee” Turner Center for Community Health Workers (Zee Turner Center), formerly known as the Center for Community Health Workforce (CCHW), is a regional center for excellence that advances Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce development and innovation.

The CCHW was launched in 2013 to grow opportunities for peer-based workforce strategies. Specifically, the center was created to develop and support the community-based health workforce and CHWs.

The Zee Turner Center is a CHW center divided into three focus areas:

1) Training Programs and Technical Assistance,

2) CHW Initiatives/Implementation, and

3) Policy, Advocacy, and Research

The Zee Turner Center priorities:

Develop CHW regional standards and scopes of practice
Enhance teaching program for CHW training and continuing education
Support CHW network development across the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond
Consult and provide technical assistance to organizations requesting help in planning, operating, and evaluating CHW programs
Support the effective integration of CHWs into clinical and community-based teams and design policies and programs that facilitate CHW retention
Research and find innovative CHW models
Serve as a clearinghouse for regional. national, and international CHW best practices
Support policy development to finance and sustain CHW service models across the region

Who was Zee Turner?

The Zee Turner Center was named in memory of CHW Zhilphia “Zee” Turner. Zee Turner was an IPHI employee who dedicated 15 years of her life to serving the Washington, DC, area. As someone who lived with a chronic health condition for 24 years and overcame adversity, Zee used her experience to help communities with substance use addiction and HIV/AIDS.

“When I get notice that people are out of care, I call them. If I get no answer, I send them a letter – or I go knock on their doors. I try to fix some of the barriers that led them out of care and I work with their case workers to get them back to taking their medicines.”

– Zee Turner in the Washington Informer

Zee was an educator, mentor, and advocate through IPHI’s Positive Pathways initiative. Her unwavering dedication and genuine care for those around her made her a beloved figure in the community. At the 2014 Unity National CHW Conference, Zee was awarded the posthumous Esther M. Holderby CHW Special Recognition Award.

IPHI proudly honors her CHW legacy by naming this regional center for excellence after her.

To learn more about the Zee Turner Center, please contact [email protected] or visit Zeeturnercenter.org/ to stay updated with CHW opportunities.

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Events & Webinars

Community Health Worker Academy

Community health workers (CHWs) celebrating with their certificates after completing a CHW training.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ACADEMY

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy is IPHI’s training institute dedicated to expanding the public health workforce. The CHW Academy is a Zee Turner Center for Community Health Worker Workforce Development initiative, formerly known as the Center for Community Health Workforce (CCHW).

To put this plan into action, IPHI:

Provides specialized training, continuing education opportunities, financial support, and mentorship to CHWs.
Facilitates field placements and apprenticeships with community partners to increase the experience, quality, and job readiness of CHWs.
Recruits CHWs from communities that are disproportionately impacted by social determinants of health. By recruiting people from more affected areas, the public health workforce can effectively connect with populations through unique experiences and perspectives.

Community Health Worker (CHW) Leadership Institute

Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy

The CHW Academy will train new and existing CHWs in the District of Columbia and neighboring counties in suburban Maryland and northern Virginia. The program aims to increase access to care, improve public health emergency response, and address under-resourced communities’ unmet public health needs by enhancing the skills of existing CHWs.

Public health needs are unmet when capacity, services, and resources are limited. Through the CHW Academy, IPHI aims to expand the critical role of CHWs to improve public health emergency response and help under-resourced communities gain access to care. This initiative was made possible by a three-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

If you have been a CHW for at least two (2) years with knowledge about CHW work and are committed to coaching, apply to be a CHW mentor: here!

The CHW mentor will be paired with recent students and devote at least one (1) hour per month to each mentee. CHW mentors will receive a small stipend for their guidance.

The CHW Academy is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3 million with 100% financing from HHS/HRSA sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

To learn more about the Community Health Worker Academy, please contact [email protected] or apply below.

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Apply