In the Community Health Investment certificate program, students will explore health equity, and social determinants to develop a broad understanding of population health and identify collaborative opportunities for healthcare providers and community-based partners. Course work includes emphasis on skill set development in interpreting data from health systems, community health needs assessments, payers, public data sets, emerging geospatial analytics and information systems. Students will delve into the roles of policy and regulatory requirements, along with emerging funding models that include pay for success, and socially responsible investing principles.
The certificate blends foundational concepts and application with a goal of preparing champions and leaders of community and health system collaborations to serve communities. Using a case-based approach, learners will use quality improvement and performance management methods to address specific social drivers (e.g. food insecurity, housing instability, transportation barriers, education, social isolation, financial insecurity). During the capstone course, students will be involved in creating, implementing or evaluating a community health advancement program or project.
Program Themes
- Compassionate caring with the poor and vulnerable
- Advancing community health and equity, diversity and inclusion
- Developing ethical leadership and strategic partnerships
- Effective communication and community engagement
- Advancing lifelong learning and developing pathway for equitable workforce development
- Addressing upstream social drivers of health with rigor, quality improvement, and return on social and financial investment
Program Leadership
The CHI Certificate Program is led by members of the Providence Community Health Investment team. These distinguished executives include:
- Dora Barilla, DrPH, MPH, CHES Group Vice President, Community Health Investment
- Dana Codron, Regional Director Community Health Investment - Northern California
- Tavia Hatfield, M Ed, Regional Director Community Health Investment - Texas and New Mexico
Program Design
The Community Health Investment Certificate Program is offered as both a freestanding option and an addition to the University of Providence Master of Healthcare Administration. The MHA is aligned with 19 competencies (https://www.uprovidence.edu/academics/explore-programs/healthcare-administration/community-health-investment/) from the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL). The University of Providence MHA program has been granted eligibility for accreditation by the Commission on Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and has submitted candidacy documents. If approved, the program will advance to candidacy and self-study in preparation for accreditation site visit. Instructional design of the Community Health Investment courses and syllabi is guided by Quality Matters (QM) principles to enhance the online learning experience.
Program Outcomes
- Analyze and understand concepts of community health, population health, health equity, social drivers of health; understand differences and synergies between concepts, and describe how they are applied in partnership with others, in our communities and health systems
- Demonstrate clear understanding of policy and regulatory requirements for community benefit; principles and concepts of upstream quality improvement; community health data and analytics; financing community health; principles of health equity
- Apply skills of ethical leadership with strategic internal and community partnerships to support health systems and community partners, to define their roles in advancing community health and equity
Community Health Investment Certificate
The certificate may be completed prior to enrolling in the MHA program of after completion of the MHA.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MHA 507 | ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY | 3 |
| MHA 508 | HEALTH INEQUITIES AND SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| MHA 509 | COMMUNITY HEALTH DATA ANALYTICS AND FINANCING | 3 |
| MHA 513 | INTRO TO UPSTREAM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH | 3 |
| MHA 525 | TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP | 3 |
| MHA 694 | INTERNSHIP / CAPSTONE | 1 |
| Total Credits Required: | 16 | |
Program Structure
- Content delivery: 8-week online master’s level courses with short breaks between courses.
- Courses are designed for working professionals.
- Length of semesters: Two 8-week terms and a brief break within each semester.
- Program length if all courses are taken in sequence: 3 semesters.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Credits | |
First 8 Week Session | ||
| MHA 507 | ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY | 3 |
Second 8 Week Session | ||
| MHA 508 | HEALTH INEQUITIES AND SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester II | ||
First 8 Week Session | ||
| MHA 509 | COMMUNITY HEALTH DATA ANALYTICS AND FINANCING | 3 |
Second 8 Week Session | ||
| MHA 513 | INTRO TO UPSTREAM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester III | ||
First 8 Week Session | ||
| MHA 525 | TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP | 3 |
Second 8 Week Session | ||
| MHA 694 | INTERNSHIP / CAPSTONE | 1 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits Required: | 16 | |
*Plan templates are based on the most current catalog and ideal route for degree completion, and should only be used to get an idea of what degree completion may look like. New and enrolled students should log into DegreeWorks to see their specific degree requirements.