Learn It
Live It
Share ItCulturally Appropriate Health Education
in the Academy
📣 Welcome, future CHW!
Teach in plain words that fit the community. This unit is 16 hours of CHW Pro training across video lessons, group practice, this eBook and the Qwest station.
By the end you can
- Explain health literacy and use plain language
- Use teach-back to check understanding
- Plan and lead a short group session
AZ scope area: Providing culturally appropriate health education and information · AZ core competency: Education and facilitation
Culturally Appropriate Health Education
Health literacy
Health literacy is how well people can find, understand and use health information. Many adults struggle with health information, so make every message easy to use.
Plain language
Use everyday words, short sentences and three to five key points. Say "high blood pressure", not "hypertension". Show pictures and real objects when you can.
Teach-back
Ask people to explain or show what they learned in their own words: "Just to be sure I explained it well, how will you take this at home?" Teach-back checks your teaching, not their intelligence.
Culturally Appropriate Health Education continued
How adults learn
Adults learn best when it is useful today, builds on what they know and lets them do something hands-on. Ask what they already know before you start.
Trusted, adapted materials
Start with trusted sources such as the CDC, MedlinePlus or your health department. Adapt the examples, foods, pictures and language with community members. Never change the medical facts.
Words CHWs Use
How well a person can find, understand and use health information.
Clear words and short sentences that people understand the first time.
Asking people to explain or show what they learned in their own words.
Guiding a group so everyone takes part and learns from each other.
Prediabetes night at the church hall
The pastor asks you to lead a one-hour session on prediabetes for 15 adults. Some speak Spanish, and several say they "hate lectures."
Your CHW steps
- Ask the group what they already know and want to learn
- Share three key messages in plain words, in English and Spanish
- Lead a hands-on activity such as reading a food label together
- Use teach-back to check the key messages
- Share where to find a local diabetes prevention program
In the Qwest, the steps are shuffled. Put them in the best order to help the client and earn your LIVE It coins.
Keep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlockCheck Your CHW Skills
- High blood pressure
- Myocardial infarction
- Hypertension
- Hyperglycemia
- How smart the client is
- How well you explained it
- The client's reading level
- Whether they paid attention
- 1 to 2
- 3 to 5
- 10 to 12
- As many as possible
- The medical facts
- Nothing at all
- The medicine doses
- The examples, pictures and foods
- The topic is useful today and hands-on
- They sit through a long lecture
- There is a test first
- They read alone
Answers are on page 11. In the Qwest this is the Boss Quiz — score 80% to earn the station badge.
Keep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlockStation 4 Qwest Lab
Every challenge uses this unit. Each one earns Live It coins and moves you toward the next CHW rank.
Keep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlockTeach It Forward
The fastest way to master a skill is to teach it. Your Share It challenge:
- Teach one health fact to a friend in plain words, then use teach-back.
- Use teach-back: ask them to explain it in their own words.
- Post what you learned (no client names) in your group or the Share It Studio to earn SHARE It coins.
Keep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlockRecord What Changed
Log one row per client goal during your practicum (up to 130 hours). A site supervisor initials each row. Record counts and minutes, never private health details.
| Date | Client goal (no names) | C3 role | Outcome | Minutes | Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outcome codes: SC screening completed · RM referral made · RC referral closed (loop confirmed) · AK appointment kept · CB coverage or benefits application submitted · HE health education delivered.
Keep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlockAnswer Key
- A. High blood pressure — Use the everyday words people use at home.
- B. How well you explained it — It checks your teaching.
- B. 3 to 5 — Three to five key points are easier to remember.
- D. The examples, pictures and foods — Adapt the examples and language; never the medical facts.
- A. The topic is useful today and hands-on — Make it useful, active and connected to what they know.
Source: Community Health Worker Pro, Force for Health Academy (2026). CHW certification, scope and payment rules vary by state and change; check your state's current rules. CHW Pro is a training program, not a state certification.
Keep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlock12 units. 160 hours.
Each eBook pairs with a video lesson in the Force for Health Academy and a station in the CHW Qwest.
theforce.health/community-health-worker · FFH Virtual LibraryKeep going: Culturally Appropriate Health Education
The rest of this eBook — the scenario, unit check, Qwest lab, practicum log and answer key.
Get this eBook · $9.99All 12 eBooks + Ambassador membership · $49CHW Pro learners and Ambassadors: this series is included.Sign in to unlock