Professional Development Resources​

Overview

The following resources are provided as potential options for Community Health Workers to access free or low-cost professional development opportunities for certificate renewal and continued learning.


Note: Neither the Department nor the CHW Program has reviewed or evaluated the content.

Webinars

Navigating Medicare and Maximizing Benefits

The Maryland Department of Aging presented a webinar on understanding and navigating Medicare, including Parts A, B, C, and D, and the benefit programs that can save money on the cost of Medicare. Information was provided on partnering with the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, local, and unbiased Medicare counseling to older adults, their families, and caregivers.   


Recording: Navigating Medicare and Maximizing Benefits (English)
Recording: Navigating Medicare and Maximizing Benefits (Spanish)

Organizations with Free Professional Development Options​

Center ​of Exc​ellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity

Through training, coaching, and technical assistance, the Center provides behavioral health practitioners with vital information to address disparities affecting LGBTQ+ people across all stages of life.​


Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI)

IPHI develops multi-sector partnerships and innovative solutions to improve the public's health and well-being across the DMV.


Maryland Behavioral ​Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP)

BHIPP provides in-person and web-based training and educational opportunities.


MDBehavioralH​ealth.com
An online training site hosted by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Developed in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration, Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Services, the site provides training to individuals interested in supporting the behavioral health of youth and their families.​​


Mental Health ​Association of Maryland

Webinars and courses help individuals improve their understanding of mental health, learn how to recognize symptoms, identify community resources, and link people to treatment.


NIH Nat​ional Heart, ​Lung, and Blood Institute

Webinars are designed for community health workers. Find information on adult learning principles to motivate behavior change and enhance heart health. Some training and resources are available in Spanish. 


Pathfinders for Autism

Lists free educational events and interactive workshops. ​​


Population Health​ ​Leadership Series - Thomas Jefferson University

The Population Health Leadership Series (PHLS) offers live face-to-face and virtual educational programs that can be customized to meet the unique needs of healthcare professionals.


Public Health Learning Navi​gator 

National Network of Public Health Institutes includes the Public Health Learning Navigator as a resource to access free, peer-reviewed online learning opportunities. 


SAMHSA Practitioner Training & Technical Assistance

SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) practitioner training portal offers tools, training, and technical assistance to practitioners in mental health and substance use disorders.


Texas A&M University Center for Community Health and ​Aging​

​This certified Community Health Worker Program in Texas offers free online education to Community Health Workers in English and Spanish on a variety of health topics to enhance population health.​​


Virtual Dementia Capability Training

This resource is made available by the Maryland Department of Aging. The training consists of eight short modules that may be viewed at your convenience.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Topic Specific Options

Emergency Preparedness & Response - Training & Education

Health Literacy Training

Healthy Schools - Training & Professional Development​​

Public Health 101 - Training Series

Violence Prevention - Tools​ & Training

Health Literacy & Health Equity Webinar Opportunities​

Course: Health​ Literacy for CHWs

Cost: $10

Length: Six (6) self- paced modules. Each module is 30 minutes.

Sponsor: University of Maryland School of Public Health


Webinar: Collaborating​ to address health inequities in underserved communities

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour

Sponsor: University of Maryland School of Public Health


Webinar: Community Health Workers' Role in Advancing Equity

Cost: Free 

Length: 60 mins

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute


Webinar: Effective Communication for Healthcare Teams: Addressing Health Literacy, Limited English Proficiency, and Cultural Differences

Cost:  Free

Length:  1 hour

Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Webinar: Enhancing the healthcare experience with a digital platform approach

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour

Sponsor: Modern Healthcare (Anthem)


Webinar: Fundamentals of Communicating Health Risks

Cost:  Free

Length:  1 hour

Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention​


Webinar: Maryland Medicaid Check-In 2023

Cost:  Free

Length:  1 hour

Sponsor: Office of Health Care Financing, Maryland Department of Health


Additional Public Health Webinar Opportunities

Webinar: A Strategic Imperative: Effective solutions to addressing burnout

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour

Sponsor: ModernHealthcare


Webinar: How to bring smart health experiences to life

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour

Sponsor: Ernst & Young Global 


Webinar: How to build a patient feedback program that works

Cost: Free

Length: 1 hour

Sponsor: Podium

Newsletters and Publications of Interest​

National Association of CHWs

Office of Min​​o​rity Health Resources

SHIP Health Action Newsletter


Additional Organization Website Resources

American C​ancer Society

American Dia​betes Association

American Hospital Association

American Lung Association

American Public Health Association

National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW)


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Last updated: May 1, 2025