The program cost is roughly $2,500. Most participants use workforce funding (WIOA) via their local American Job Center or a similar grant program, so that the training is essentially free to you as the student.

Register with your county’s American Job Center, schedule to attend that workcenters orientation, and once assigned an Employment Specialist/Counselor, request funding for the “Voices of Hope Community Health Worker Training Program,” and send us your funding verification once you receive it to finalize enrollment.

If you aren’t able to obtain funding through a workforce center or grant, we can suggest a few alternative avenues. Also, if you were denied by one funding source, it may be worth checking with another local job center or funding program; sometimes eligibility criteria differ. Feel free to reach out to us for guidance if you’re having trouble securing funding—we want to help you find a path to certification one way or another.

Yes—some employers fund certification training. If you’re employed, ask your HR department; otherwise, we’ll direct you to American Job Centers for WIOA funding pathways.

Yes. Voices of Hope is listed by the Maryland Department of Health as an accredited CHW training program (Accreditation #013-2022-G).

Yes—many learners attend free webinars or open trainings while funding is processing. Although our program enrollees receive priority registration for all trainings, once you submit the Interest Form, you will be added to our Training Email ListServ. You will then receive email notifications, once a training becomes open for registration. But due to the number of subscribers to our Training Email ListServ, there is no guarantee of a seat. We’ll finalize your full enrollment once funding is verified.

Simply fill out the online Program Interest Form for the training program you’re interested in (available on this page) After submitting the form, you will receive an email (usually within one business day) with instructions on how to get started. Our enrollment is ongoing, meaning you can apply at any time—we add you to our training list and guide you through the next steps without having to wait for a new “semester.”

You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED to enroll. (If you do not yet have a high school diploma or GED, don’t worry—we have resources to help you toward that journey to earn your GED while you are in the program.) There is no personal recovery time requirement for the Community Health Worker program. This track is open to anyone interested in community health outreach and support (whether or not you have lived substance-use recovery experience).

CHW (Community Health Worker) training is a bit broader and does not require any prior recovery experience. The CHW program was actually created as a stepping stone for those who don’t yet meet the 2-year recovery requirement or who come from other helping backgrounds. It covers many of the same core courses as the CPRS training, but adds additional public health topics (for example, classes on health literacy, COVID care, sexual health basics, etc.) to prepare you as a frontline public health worker. The CHW certification is a Maryland credential for community health outreach work—CHWs serve as liaisons between health/social services and the community. This training is ideal if you want to work in community health or if you are interested in the peer role but don’t have 2 years in recovery yet. In fact, many use the CHW certification as a pathway: you can start working in the field as a CHW and then transition into the CPRS credential once you do attain two years of recovery.

The timeline can vary for each individual. The CHW program involves 100 hours of training and a 40-hour practicum. In many cases, CHW trainees might finish in a few months (depending on course scheduling and how quickly you complete the 40-hour internship).

We will arrange your internship/practicum as part of the program. the requirement is a 40-hour practicum. This can also be done at Voices of Hope (within one of our recovery centers) or at another organization that works in community health. Many of our CHW students do their practicum with us, but if you prefer to do it with a partner agency in your local area, we can coordinate that (via an MOU to formalize the placement). During the practicum, you’ll be expected to demonstrate the CHW core competencies under the guidance of a supervisor or mentor, and we’ll provide the necessary documentation and support to evaluate those competencies.

Yes – we will fully prepare you to succeed. The certification exam for CHW is administered through the Maryland Department of Health, but Voices of Hope facilitates the exam for our students on-site. After you complete the 100 hours of training and 40-hour practicum, we will schedule you to take the CHW Certification Exam. You must score at least 80% to pass the CHW exam. After you pass, Voices of Hope will assist you in completing the Maryland CHW certification application through the state’s online portal. We’ll guide you through the paperwork to ensure you receive your official certificate from the Board of Certification.

Maryland CHW certification is state-issued by MDH. Other states may have different rules. Your hours/competencies may still be valuable, but out-of-state recognition isn’t guaranteed; check your state’s CHW program.

For VoH-owned webinars and trainings, you’ll complete a post-test via VoH, then an eval via VoH Protraxx; certificates are released after that. CCAR-owned courses appear in CCAR Protraxx.

Almost all classes are live on Zoom. You must join from a computer or tablet with working mic and camera on (*no cellphones*), be on time, and stay engaged the entire session.

Many courses run on consecutive days; attendance for all dates is required. If you miss time, you will not receive credit, and you will need to reschedule for the next offering of that training.