Training and Learning Programs for Volunteer Community Health Workers

Volunteer community health workers (CHWs) are a major strategy for increasing access to and coverage of basic health interventions. Our village health worker training course reviews the process of training and continuing education of CHWs as an important component of involving communities in their own health service delivery. Participants will be guided through the steps of planning training and continuing education activities for village volunteers. The course draws on real-life examples from community-directed onchocerciasis control, village health worker programs, community case management efforts, peer educators programs and patent medicine vendor training programs, to name a few.

• Getting Started
• In this module, we will focus on the principles of learning, as well as approaching the health service and the community. There will almost be a quiz covering the first two lectures.
• Diagnosing Needs and Identifying Objectives
• In this module, we will focus on what information we will need to begin training and planning, as well as cover content, objectives, and SMART objectives. There will be a quiz covering lectures 3-4 after completing the lectures in this module. You will also begin to create your rough draft of your plan in the Course Project.
• Selecting Training Methods, Materials, and Resources
• In this module, we will focus on a variety of methods, training logistics, and educational materials. There will be a quiz that covers lecture 5-6 to after completing these lectures in this module.
• Monitoring Implementation
• In this module, we will focus on monitoring, as well as look at a sample community volunteer session. There will be a quiz covering lectures 7-8 after completing the lectures in this module. You will also be able to revise your rough draft in the Course Project section of this module.
• Program Evaluation and Follow-Up
• In this module, we will focus on evaluation, performance, and supervision. There will be a quiz covering lectures 9-10 after completing the lectures in this module.
• Wrap-Up & Course Project
• In this module, you will submit your final draft of your plan and wrap-up the course.