GALESBURG — A free, non-credit program at Sandburg this fall semester can help you develop valuable, employable skills to support your community while gaining experience in multiple health professions.
The community health worker program through Sandburg’s Workforce Development & Community Education Department will help students prepare for entry-level health professions work in just 16 weeks.
Starting Aug. 19, students will complete eight weeks of core content instruction (100 hours of instruction, plus coursework) and eight weeks of practical internship experience through partnerships with area employers (100 hours of internship, plus a weekly evening seminar), giving them the opportunity to explore and shape their long-term career path.
Community health workers are frontline public health professionals who act as a trusted link between individuals, communities and health and social services systems. They focus on providing support and connecting people to necessary resources within their community to improve health outcomes. These employees work on the periphery of health organizations to help ensure community members get access to the proper health services they need.
There’s no cost to students in the fall 2025 offering of the community health worker program, as it’s covered by an Innovative Bridge Transitions Grant. The grant saves each student who signs up for the program about $1,500. Students who complete the internship portion of the program will receive a $500 stipend.
The program includes in-person and online instruction. Students will meet in person each Tuesday evening and complete other requirements on their own time. The program will be available at Sandburg's campuses in Galesburg and Carthage.
The community health worker program can serve as a springboard for students interested in pursuing Sandburg’s other health science programs, such as certified nursing assistant (CNA), practical nursing (PN), associate degree nursing (RN), radiologic technology, computed tomography (CT), dental hygiene and mortuary science. It’s also an opportunity for professionals already in the health care field to add to their skill set.
To learn more about the community health worker program, contact Sandburg’s Workforce Development & Community Education Department at 309.345.3501 or community@sandburg.edu.