Training

Allies in Health offers evidence-based training and professional development that strengthens the knowledge and skills of public health professionals, Community Health Workers, caregivers, and community members. We work with healthcare organizations, social services agencies, community and faith-based organizations, educational institutions, public agencies, and other partners to deliver training that meets the needs of their workforce and the communities they serve.

Our training programs are delivered in English or Spanish, either in person or virtually.

Community Health Worker (CHW) Training

Community Health Workers play a vital role in improving access to care, addressing social drivers of health, and strengthening connections between communities and health and social service systems.

We provide Community Health Worker education and workforce development opportunities for organizations seeking to build, strengthen, or expand their CHW programs.

Our training offerings include:

  • CHW Core Competency Training, including communication, advocacy, service coordination and navigation, outreach, and education and facilitation skills, aligned with the National Community Health Worker Core Consensus (C3) Council competencies.

  • Specialized CHW Training (e.g., behavioral health, maternal health, caregiving, genomics)

  • Professional Development Workshops

  • CHW Supervisor Training

  • Strategies for CHW workforce development, integration, and sustainability

Mental Health First Aid®

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, early intervention training that equips participants with the knowledge and skills to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges, provide initial support, and connect individuals to appropriate professional resources.

Allies in Health offers:

  • Adult Mental Health First Aid

  • Adult Mental Health First Aid for Older Adults

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid for Tribal Communities and Indigenous Peoples

Training may be delivered to employees, coaches, teachers, volunteers, caregivers, frontline staff, community members, and other groups through employers, healthcare and social service organizations, educational institutions, public agencies, and community- and faith-based organizations.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers®

Powerful Tools for Caregivers® is an evidence-based education program that helps family caregivers develop practical skills to care for themselves while caring for others.

Participants learn strategies to:

  • Reduce caregiver stress

  • Improve communication

  • Manage difficult emotions

  • Make informed caregiving decisions

  • Connect with community resources

Allies in Health offers Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes for family caregivers and implementation support for organizations interested in offering the program within their organizations or communities.

We also work with employers to strengthen caregiver support and foster caregiver-friendly workplace initiatives.

Research Partnerships & Community Engagement

In addition to training, Allies in Health partners with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and community organizations to support community-engaged research/clinical studies and the implementation of evidence-based programs. We provide community engagement, stakeholder outreach, participant recruitment, cultural and linguistic adaptation, training, and implementation support to help ensure research is accessible, culturally responsive, and meaningful to the communities it serves.

Our team has completed CIRTification®: Community Involvement in Research Training, a human research protections training program that covers research ethics, participant recruitment, informed consent, Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, and the responsible collection and protection of research data. Combined with our experience supporting community-engaged research and evidence-based program implementation, this training enhances our ability to partner effectively with researchers and communities. Our experience includes initiatives such as CuidaTEXT and partnerships with researchers to strengthen community participation and trust.

Featured Resource: Coming Soon! Strengthening Research Participation in Puerto Rico: Community-Informed Insights and Recommendations