For village health workers, human service workers, PATCH coordinators,
and others who want to enhance their Health Promotion and Health Education skills

Well, now you can! The University of Alaska Southeast-Sitka Campus, along with the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), is beginning recruitment for the 2002-2003 Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) program.

This program trains students to successfully implement health promotion and health education activities.
Candidates for this program include village health/human service workers and others who want to improve the health of their community.

This is a one-year program and includes audio-conference classes; using UAS distance delivery technology, and 2 one-week residencies in Sitka. Students can earn up to 12 college credits that can be applied to the CWA certification program or other degree programs. Students will learn basic information on public health and the health issues important to Alaskans, such as tobacco, physical activity and diabetes, teaching techniques, individual behavior change and the building blocks of group and community health education. CWA students will develop the skills necessary to become a successful and confident health promoter.

The next CWA course starts Wednesday, September 11, 2002,
followed by the first CWA residency from September 23-27, 2002,
in Sitka at the SEARHC Campus.

In addition to the CWA core program, community nutrition classes, including Basic Nutrition and the Lifecycle, Introduction to Nutrition Education, a Nutrition Education Practicum, and Food Handling and Preservation will be distance delivered throughout the year at UAS starting summer 2002, and again starting summer 2003.

Armed with the basic CWA core program, the four community nutrition classes and three general university classes, a student could walk away as a Certified Community Wellness Advocate with a special emphasis in Community Nutrition.

The total cost for the CWA core program is as follows: $82/credit x 4 credits/course = $328 + $40 distance fee + $20 technology fee = $388 x 3 courses = $1,164 + $100 for textbooks = $1,264 total cost for the CWA core program. This cost does not include travel and housing for the required CWA residencies.

If you would like to learn more about this exciting program,
call Roz Jenkins at (907) 966-8734
or e-mail her at cwacoord@search.org
or call UAS Sitka Campus at 1-800-478-6653, ext. 714.

Download the CWA Brochure
Download a CWA Application Form

HS S193A 4 cr.-Sitka & Distance Delivery
This course is the first of three courses developed to teach students to create and carryout health promotion and health education activities. . It begins with teambuilding and a one week of presentations, discussions, and group work on the UAS campus. This one week class introduces the course topics which will be explored more fully in the audio-conferences. Following your return home, you will begin weekly audio-conference discussions, weekly assignments, and completion of two class projects: an asset inventory/map and a profile of the student's community,. The class also includes a final exam. Topics include: an overview of health and wellness; the basic principles of public health; a survey of health systems and important health issues in Alaska; and health promotion ethics and health and human rights.
Prerequisite: English Placement Test, admission to CWA program, or approval of instructor.

HS S283A 4 cr.-Distance Delivery
This course is the second of three courses. It includes weekly audio-conferences, weekly assignments, and completion of two class projects: health counseling session, and a presentation on a health topic of your choice. There is also a final exam. Topics include: health education models, behavior change and its connection to health promotion, basic counseling skills and communication techniques, specific health topics (smoking, physical activity, diabetes, and heart disease), using health risk appraisals, and methods of instruction.
Prerequisite: HS S193A (Community Wellness Advocate Training I)

HS S293B 4 cr.-Sitka & Distance Delivery
This course is the third of three courses. It includes one week of on-campus study similar to the first course, weekly audio-conferences, weekly assignments, and completion of three class projects: organizing a community-wide event, adapting and conducting a "canned" health program, and completing a mini-grant application. There is also a final exam. Topics include: health education theories and models, strategies for group and community health education, group facilitation skills, networking, collaboration, outreach skills and cultural competence for health promotion. You will focus on specific health topics (sexual health issues, domestic violence, grief, substance abuse, injury prevention, and cancer awareness). You will also look at incorporating all the new skills and knowledge into programs for your home communities and learn the grant writing basics.
Prerequisite: HS S193A, HS S293A (Community Wellness Advocate Training I and II).