Students in this course develop skills necessary to perform community health work and implement program improvement. They also learn the social and emotional aspects of receiving a health diagnosis and how to navigate a patient through finding resources related to their health-related social needs. Students also practice evaluating resources and creating community health referral networks, exploring health improvement programs, and practice using the tools that community health workers use.

Students in this course will learn the basic concepts of community health work and the patient-centric concept of assisting patients along the health care continuum. Students will develop skills necessary to effectively communicate and build relationships with patients within the complex systems they live in. Students will also learn how to evaluate and locate health care resources and support systems in relation to an individual's health. Consideration of varying stages of care, social determinants that impact physical health, and reducing disparities in access and treatment will be reviewed. Barriers to care, problem solving, and managing information and resources will also be discussed.

This course will introduce the field of public health. Students will explore the role of public health professionals to prevent disease and promote health in populations and our environment through scientific research, policy development, and health education.