The region has nearly 170 newly certified community health workers after the first cohort completed a specialized training program at UC Merced.
Graduates of the training, offered through the university’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) division, were celebrated at a ceremony July 15 on campus. The program equips participants with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to serve as effective community health workers. People in these positions serve as a bridge between people and the health care system, building trust with those they serve and facilitating access to resources.
Dean Annette Roberts Webb said the Community Health Worker Training Specialized Certificate meets the mission of PACE to develop programs that align with employer needs and create jobs.
“This is the first certificate we’ve created,” she said. “It’s designed around core competencies and the skills needed to succeed.”
She said having more than 160 people complete the initial cohort is “amazing.”
“Even more exciting, 34 of these completers are high school students from our partner districts in Turlock and Atwater.”
Among them was Andrea Sandoval, who graduated from Atwater High School and is headed to California State University, Stanislaus, in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.
“The program didn’t just prepare me to work in health care, it taught me how to truly connect with people, understand their needs and advocate for better access to care, especially to those who need it the most,” Sandoval said. “This is why this certification is more than a line on my resume, it’s a foundation I will build on to help others.”
Also earning a certificate was Nikirah Appiah, a community health navigator for Dignity Health who works with Mercy Medical Center’s Mobile Care Clinic.
“While my current role provided me with initial hands-on experience as a community health worker, this course gave me so much more insight and clarity on what my role truly is,” she said. “I gained confidence in the care and services we provide, and it inspired me to find better ways to serve our community. The camaraderie among mycohort was incredibly encouraging, and meeting face-to-face at the graduation celebration brought it all full circle.”
The online program costs $895; 120 students had their tuition covered through a grant from the Central California Alliance for Health.
“For this program, the Alliance awarded nearly $800,000 in grants to pay tuition for students who work for providers in Merced and adjacent counties,” said CEO Michael Schrader. “The Alliance made this commitment because we’re really committed to Merced and Mariposa counties. We want more community health care workers to serve our Medi-Cal members.”
The graduates are more than health care workers, Yamilet Valladolid, director of government and community affairs for Golden Valley Health Care, said in her keynote remarks. “You are neighbors, healers, advocates and bridge builders.”
Valladolid told the students they are graduating into a world that desperately needs them.
“Health care systems are often overwhelmed and impersonal,” she said. “You are not just community health workers. You are also community builders. You are front line leaders. Advocates for change. The ripple effect your work will have will be felt for generations to come.”
The program is expanding this fall, with another cohort starting in September, a dual enrollment program with Mariposa County High school kicking off, and a Spanish-language version as well, said Michael Pierick, director of strategic initiatives and the degree completion program at PACE.
“Working with our partners, this is a testament to the commitment to improving access to health care in the Central Valley,” Pierick said. “We want to make sure we are everywhere with the type of work we can do.”
Sandoval said one of the most meaningful parts of her journey was realizing how much she can do to help the Central Valley, the place she calls home.
“Many families in our area face barriers like language, transportation, or lack of health insurance,” she said. “With this certification, I now have the tools to be part of the solution. Whether it’s connecting someone to a clinic, helping them understand their medications, or simply being someone they can trust, I am so ready to serve.”
Public Information Officer
