Health Professions Education

Community colleges have long been recognized as essential collaborators in the training of frontline health care professionals. More recently, growing policy and programmatic interest has led to an increased emphasis on integrating health professions training at community colleges into the broader continuum of public health education, and creating viable professional pathways for students entering the field at all levels of the continuum. This study examined the specific role of community colleges in preparing graduates for the “health navigator professions” including community health workers, health care navigators, health insurance navigators, and similar professions. A national online survey was used to examine the current practices of community colleges regarding training for these professions, and perspectives on the Health Navigator curricular framework developed by the Framing the Future Task Force of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. Data were collected from approximately 260 community college leaders engaged in health professions education. Results suggest a preference for flexible, credit-granting associate-degree programs that are heavily embedded in the community, and that integrate core community health, health care workforce, and health insurance needs. Respondents preferred applied associate degree programs as well as associate degree program designed for transfer. They also expressed interest in academic certificate program and online programs. Strategies for establishing sustainable community-based workforce partnerships and aligning with the state policy context for community health worker training are also discussed.