Where Crisis Meets Opportunity: Strengthening Community Health Through Connection, Collaboration and Coordination

Community Health Workers (CHWs) often work with individuals and families facing challenges that go beyond healthcare.

Temple University's Systems Thinking and Resource Coordination course helps CHWs and related professionals develop practical skills for navigating these systems, building partnerships and connecting individuals with available resources.

What Is Systems Thinking and Resource Coordination?

Systems thinking helps CHWs see how healthcare, social services and community resources are connected and how they influence one another.

Resource coordination builds on that understanding. It involves identifying available support, navigating referral processes and helping individuals connect with services that address their needs.

Together, these skills help CHWs take a more coordinated approach to supporting individuals and strengthening communities.

Why Take This Course?

Community health challenges rarely have simple solutions. Helping someone access the care and resources they need often means understanding the bigger picture, building relationships and working with different organizations.

This course will help you strengthen your ability to:

• Understand how healthcare and community systems interact.
• Build trust and engage effectively with individuals and communities.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers and community-based organizations.
• Identify resources and coordinate referrals to address individual and community needs. 

Who Should Enroll?

This course is designed for professionals who work with individuals, families and communities to improve access to healthcare and social services.

It's especially relevant for:

• Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Certified Community Health Workers (CCHWs)
• Care coordinators and patient navigators
• Healthcare and human services professionals
• CHW supervisors and program coordinators
• Public health practitioners and community-based organization staff

What Will You Learn?

The course includes four modules covering essential areas of community health practice.

• Systems Thinking

Explore how healthcare, social services and community systems interact. Learn to take a broader approach to problem-solving and decision-making.

• Community Engagement

Develop strategies for building trust, practicing cultural humility and engaging meaningfully with individuals and diverse communities.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Strengthen your communication and teamwork skills while exploring ways to build partnerships across healthcare organizations and community-based services.

• Referrals and Resource Coordination

Learn strengths-based approaches to identifying resources, coordinating referrals and helping individuals navigate barriers to accessing services.

How Is the Course Delivered?

Fit learning into your schedule with this 100% online, self-paced continuing education course. You can work through the materials at your own pace during the active course period.

Does This Course Support Pennsylvania CHW Professional Development?

Course content aligns with selected Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) Certified Community Health Worker competency domains, including Care Coordination, Community Health Concepts, and Advocacy & Capacity Building.

If you're seeking to apply course hours toward CCHW recertification, confirm eligibility directly with the Pennsylvania Certification Board.

Please note: This is a noncredit continuing education course. It is not a PCB-approved initial CHW certification training program and does not fulfill the initial education requirement for the Pennsylvania Certified Community Health Worker credential.