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Office of Community Health Workers

The Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers (KOCHW) exists to strengthen, support and promote sustainability of the Community Health Worker (CHW) profession across Kentucky.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE KOCHW CONNECTION

VISIT THE CERTIFIED CHW REGISTRY

Additional Information

Resource Links

American Public Health Association

Community Health Worker Core Consensus Project

Why Kentucky Chose to Pursue Community Health Worker Certification

Engaging Community Health Workers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Public Health Response to Address Health Disparities and Build Community Resilience

Contact Information

CHW Certification

Kentucky CHW Certification Background

The Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers issues official certification for community health workers who successfully demonstrate all eight core competencies through completion of qualified training or related work experience.

CHW Certification Manual

The Kentucky Department for Public Health Community Health Worker Certification Manual - This manual contains Information about the certification process, Continuing Education Requirements, The Kentucky CHW Core Competences, Code of Ethics, Violations, and Complaints and Subsequent Actions.

Initial Application Process and Resources

To ensure a successful application, please follow the steps below.

Read the Kentucky CHW Certification Manual and ensure eligibility requirements are fulfilled.
Read the instructions on navigating the application platform, Certemy.
Determine the appropriate certification pathway. Applicants will follow the link based on the chosen pathway and create an account.
- CHW – Training & Mentorship
- CHW – Experience
Complete the online application through Certemy.
Submit $50 payment to the KOCHW via online portal.
Check Certemy account and email frequently for communication regarding application.

KOCHW Mentorship Tracking Form

KOCHW Mentorship Tracking Form – All mentorships must be documented and submitted using the KOCHW Mentorship Tracking Form.

Certification Renewal, Expiration, and Reinstatement

All CCHWs must renew their certification in Certemy each year between August 1st and October 31st. To ensure a successful renewal application, please follow the steps below:

Read the Kentucky CHW Certification Manual and ensure eligibility requirements are fulfilled.
Read the instructions on navigating the application platform, Certemy
Earn at least 10 hours of continuing education
- Dashboard
Complete the online renewal application through Certemy.
- If additional time is needed, request an extension through Certemy.
Submit $25 payment to the KOCHW via online portal.
Check Certemy account and email frequently for communication regarding renewal application.

If a CCHW does not renew their certification by October 31st, it will expire. Certifications expired for 18 months or less may be eligible for reinstatement.

Contact KOCHW for more information about the reinstatement process.

Registry Link - For a complete list of Certified Community Health Workers, please visit our registry.

CHW Training and Continuing Education

Training Information for CHWs

Dashboard - This dashboard is a centralized portal for all approved continuing education opportunities and resources.

Approved Foundational Training Organizations - This is a comprehensive list of all the Training Organizations’ curricula approved by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Office of Community Health Workers, to provide Foundational (Tier 1) training for Community Health Workers.

Approved CCHW Specialized Certificates - This is a comprehensive list of all the Specialized Certificates approved by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Office of Community Health Workers.

Training Information for Organizations

Applying for CCHW Continuing Education Units - This step-by-step guide will navigate you through the process of applying for CEUs for CCHWs. Please note that all training must cover at least one Kentucky Core Competency. The approval process for CCHW is 4 business weeks. The link to the applications can be found at the bottom of Community Health Workers Continuing Education Credit Process.

Approved Foundation Training Organizations (ATO) - To become an Approved Training Organization the organization will need to follow the Approved Foundational Training Organization Approval Process one-pager.

Specialized Certificates - KOCHW recently launched the Specialized Certificate program for CHWs in Kentucky. These certificates are designed to provide additional knowledge and skills beyond the foundational training. To learn more about creating a specialized certificate for CHWs please read the on-pager linked above.

Medicaid Billing and Sustainability Resources for CHWs

CHW Medicaid Billing Information

CHW Medicaid Billing Best Practice Guide

This guide is divided into two essential sections:

Section1: General Billing Guidance and Best Practices
Section 2: Billing Considerations for Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Rural Health Center (RHC)

CHW Medicaid Billing for Local Health Departments

CHW Medicaid Billing Best Practices Guide for Local Health Departments -This guide is specifically for Local Health Departments and divided into two essential sections:

Section1: General Billing Guidance and Best Practices for Local Health Departments
Section 2: Documentation requirements, Audits, Resources, Appendices for Local Health Departments

Local Health Departments who bill Medicaid for CHW services must follow the requirements outlined in this guide regarding CHW documentation and audits.

Stay Connected

CHW Advisory Workgroup

The Community Health Worker Advisory Workgroup established in 2014 brings together community health workers (CHWs), representatives from local health departments, federally qualified health centers, nonprofits, universities and other organizations that employ, want to employ or work with CHWs to share information and advance the CHW profession. All are welcome to join and participate in the advisory workgroup. Meetings are held quarterly on the fourth Wednesday in January, April, July and October from 1:30 – 3 p.m. Eastern time. Meetings are held via Zoom. To register click the link above.

Kentucky Association of Community Health Worker

The Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers was formed in 2016 to advocate and promote the CHW profession in Kentucky. The association views CHWs as the missing link between the health care provider and the client. This relationship plays a key role in improving the health of our communities. To learn more or become a member, please visit the Kentucky Association of Community Health Workers website.

CHW Legislation and Regulation

Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) and Administrative Regulations

Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) outline the statutory requirements regarding CHW certification, continuing education, certification renewal and the duties of the Department for Public Health.

Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) 902 KAR 21:040 authorizes the Department for Public Health to promulgate administrative regulations for the certification of community health workers.

CCHW Complaints

Anyone may file a complaint to KOCHW alleging that a CCHW has committed an offense or action prohibited under state law or that a certificate holder has violated Kentucky Administrative Regulation per 902 KAR 21:040. To file a complaint via mail, use the address below.

Kentucky Department for Public Health
Office of Community Health Workers
275 E. Main Street, HS1WD
Frankfort, Kentucky 40621

To file a complaint via email, please follow the link here.

Complaints should contain:

A statement that the CCHW has violated the requirements of Kentucky Administrative Regulation per 902 KAR 21:040 or the CHW code of ethics
The facts on which the complaint is based; and
The signature and contact information for the complainant.

Upon receipt of a complaint, KOCHW shall provide notice to the CCHW named in the complaint that a complaint has been filed and provide the CCHW with an opportunity to respond to the complaint, including a proposal to resolve the complaint.

Anonymous complaints will not be investigated.

If the information received addresses a concern that is outside the scope of the Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers Certification Standards or Code of Ethics, KOCHW will not consider the concern a complaint.

Office of Community Health Workers

Additional Information

Resource Links

Contact Information

CHW Certification

Kentucky CHW Certification Background

CHW Certification Manual

Initial Application Process and Resources

KOCHW Mentorship Tracking Form

Certification Renewal, Expiration, and Reinstatement

CHW Training and Continuing Education

Training Information for CHWs

Training Information for Organizations

Medicaid Billing and Sustainability Resources for CHWs

CHW Medicaid Billing Information

CHW Medicaid Billing for Local Health Departments

Stay Connected

CHW Advisory Workgroup

Kentucky Association of Community Health Worker

CHW Legislation and Regulation

Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) and Administrative Regulations

CCHW Complaints

Resources

One-Pagers

CHW Workforce Data

Office of Community Health Workers

Additional Information

Resource Links

Contact Information

Related Agencies

CHW Certification

Kentucky CHW Certification Background

CHW Certification Manual

Initial Application Process and Resources

KOCHW Mentorship Tracking Form

Certification Renewal, Expiration, and Reinstatement

CHW Training and Continuing Education

Training Information for CHWs

Training Information for Organizations

Medicaid Billing and Sustainability Resources for CHWs

CHW Medicaid Billing Information

CHW Medicaid Billing for Local Health Departments

Stay Connected

CHW Advisory Workgroup

Kentucky Association of Community Health Worker

CHW Legislation and Regulation

Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) and Administrative Regulations

CCHW Complaints

Resources

One-Pagers

CHW Workforce Data