Introduction to public health approaches for the prevention and control of disease and injury, drawn from epidemiology, health policy, behavioral health, environmental health, community organizing, maternal and child health and other public health disciplines. Examination of contemporary health challenges with an emphasis on addressing social determinants to improve health for all.
Public health perspectives on diverse types of violence, with a focus on trends over time, causes and risk factors of violence, and resiliency, in order to develop strategies for violence prevention. Trauma and other consequences of violence will be examined. Community-based advocacy skills for violence prevention are introduced and practiced in this course.
The course prepares students for internship placement in behavioral health settings. Emphasis is placed on reviewing and practicing course counseling skills, legal and ethical issues, standard documentation of service delivery, expectations and responsibilities, cultural humility, self-care, and placement strategies including resume writing and employment interviewing skills.
Multilingual students are introduced to the field of healthcare interpreting (HCI) and the California HCI Standards, exploring the roles and scope of practice of healthcare interpreters. Completion of this course, along with proof of language proficiency in English and in a language of service, is required for possible admission to the HCI Certificate of Achievement program.
Students complete an internship with local employers to gain meaningful work experience and earn credit towards their CHW Certificate. One unit of credit is earned for 54 hours of unpaid or paid work.
Students will continue to develop core CHW competencies such as cultural humility and client-centered health education, counseling and care management services. They will continue to enhance professional skills essential for success in the field, and will study concepts and skills for providing group and community-centered assessment, education, support and advocacy services.
This course focuses on mindfulness-based stress reduction practices, including mindfulness meditation and movement practices. Application of these stress reduction practices in everyday life will be supported through the in-class practice of various mindfulness techniques and shared self-reflection.
This course offers an examination of the history of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. From a public health perspective, students will analyze drug policies and their impact on the health of culturally diverse, marginalized, and low income communities. Students will also develop skills to advocate for policy change.
Introduction to gerontology for students pursuing careers in the aging field and those who will work with older adults in various work settings. Employs a multidisciplinary perspective, incorporating biology, psychology, sociology, and public health approaches and combining gerontology theory, research, and practice with social justice and multicultural perspectives.
Practice advanced interpreting skills, standards, and protocols, with a focus on active listening, linguistic equivalency, vocabulary development, and ethical decision-making. In addition, practice managing the flow of interpreting sessions, such as maintaining pace, ensuring transparency, facilitating understanding and communication, and respecting communicative autonomy of all parties in fast-paced health care and other settings of varying dynamics and complexity.