Program Title
Health Navigator
TOPs Code
Health Education (083700)
Projected Start Date
August 22, 2018
Program Description
Health Navigator is a health care professional who works as part of a team or health care system to reduce barriers to accessing health care and promoting prevention services. This includes linking patients with a primary health care provider, providing information and resources, helping providers communicate with patients, and providing health education and promoting health behaviors. The Health Navigator Certificate is a two semester, up to 24 credit certificate of achievement, which includes a work based internship. Coursework is specific to the public health promotional field.
Below are the student learning outcomes. Upon completion of the Health Navigator Certificate, students will be able to:
1. Practice within the code of ethics for health educators (health navigator, community health worker, outreach worker, patient navigator).
2. Use communication strategies that are responsive to the social determinants of health for an individual and/or community. Social determinants include conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
3. Implement health education plans to promote healthy behaviors, address health risks and reduce harm.
4. Work with clients to facilitate access to resources and increase the clients’ ability to navigate the health care system
There are no prerequisite skills needed prior to enrollment. Embedded in the course work of the certificate of achievement is a directed practicum. This internship will provide a capstone experience and placement in a public health worksite. The public health field is competitive and requires that participants have a track record of success and can demonstrate knowledge and skills. Positions include but are not limited to health navigator, community health outreach worker, nonprofit work to working in a school health environment.
Enrollment Completer Projections
The proposed start date for the Health Navigator is Fall 2018. Only ‘Semester One” courses will be offered. “Semester Two” courses will be added in addition to “Semester One” courses in Fall 2019. “Semester Three” and “Semester Four” courses will be added as the program progresses. Students may enter the program in the Fall semester. It is projected that initially 20-30 students will enroll in and complete the Certificate of Achievement annually.