The Community Health and Wellness Program prepares you to become a trusted Community Health Worker and Doula, supporting families and individuals through their health journeys. You’ll learn to provide essential physical, emotional, and informational support during childbirth, bridging cultural and linguistic gaps to improve healthcare accessibility and outcomes. Through hands-on training, you’ll gain skills in health advocacy, education, and connecting clients with vital resources. This program empowers you to address health disparities, foster cultural competence, and enhance community wellness, becoming a vital link between your community and the healthcare system.
Eligibility
- Grade 12
- Eligible for high school graduation within the same school year of JTED program completion
- Complete Star Reading assessment
- Minimum Reading Score = 1045
- Star scores are relative to national norms and may change from year to year. Listed required minimum score is for the incoming 2025-26 class.
- Prerequisite course with a C or better or minimum 2.0 home high school cumulative GPA
- Prerequisite course options: Healthcare Foundations, Psychology, Sports Medicine, Anatomy/Physiology, Social/Mental Health Tech, Health & Medical Careers or EMS
- Completion of JTED Advanced Healthcare Pathway Application
Other Requirements
- Be able to obtain fingerprint clearance card, pass industry required drug testing, and background checks for internships
- For clinicals, externships, certifications, and licenses provide social security number
- Must hold current Basic Life Support (CPR) Certification before start of class
- Provide own transportation to local off site field experiences
Number of Years to Complete this Program
1 year to complete
Things to Consider
- Discuss health concerns with members of the community
- Provide informational counseling and social support
- Help people understand their health conditions
- Translate or interpret health information for clients
- Organize outreach programs
- Provide health screenings, referrals and educational materials
- Advocate for individual and community health needs
- Collect data and report findings to healthcare providers
- Career Advancements: Health & Wellness, Public Health, Social Worker, Registered Nurse in public health
- Must hold current Basic Life Support CPR Certification before start of class
Direct Employment
- Pima County Health Dept.
- El Rio
Jobs Available After Additional or Advanced Training
- Community Health Advisor
- Individual and Family advocate
- Health Educator
- Liaison
- Promoter
- Outreach Worker
- Peer Counselor
- Patient Navigator
- Public Health Aide
- Health Education Specialist
- Case Manager
Locations
JTED @ The Bridges
3300 S. Park Ave.
- Monday through Thursday 4 to 6:30 p.m.
- 480 hour internship for CH certificate and/or one birth observation and three birth attendances for Doula certificate
- Field experiences will occur throughout the school year, including some Saturdays, and the summer following graduation
Program Completion/Sequence
Year 1
- Semester 1: Global Health: Best practices, Social Determinants, Cultural Awareness & humility, Home health aid
- Semester 2: Rural health, Indigenous communities, Underserved areas, Home Health aid, Community Health Family Project, Community Health internship
Certification
- Voluntary Community Health Worker
- Doula Certification
- Teen Mental Health First Aid
Work Based Learning Requirements
Community Health Internship
Credits
2/Year
Instructor
Joyce Wall, RN
Program Manager
Beth Francis, RN, MS
More Information
Supplies
- Gait belt (nylon belt with metal buckle – plastic buckles not allowed)
- Stethoscope with a bell and diaphragm
- Wrist watch with a second hand for taking vitals (no digital or smart watches)
- Blood pressure cuff (do not purchase the combination stethoscope/blood pressure cuff that is attached together)
Uniform
- JTED Blue Lake polo
- JTED Black utility scrub pants
Beneficial Classes to Take in High School
Academic Classes
- Anatomy & Physiology
- English
- Psychology
- Language
CTE Classes
- Sports Medicine
- Health Care Foundations
- Early Childhood Education
