Become a Certified Health Navigator

Health Navigation

Health Navigation is a culturally responsive, promising practice intervention designed to provide the services, skills and confidence which consumers with serious mental illness need to self-manage their healthcare. After completing an intensive, specialized training course combining classroom instruction and coaching in real-world settings, each certified Health Navigator works with consumers to “bridge” the mental health, primary healthcare, and specialty healthcare systems.

Health Navigator Certification Training

Pacific Clinics Training Institute’s Health Navigator Certification Training Program, also known as Peer Health Navigation, is a promising practice conducted through the Pacific Clinics Training Institute (PCTI) in collaboration with the USC School of Social Work. PCTI is the only approved training provider of this certification. The program is designed to train the behavioral health workforce and other social service providers to teach consumers to effectively “navigate” the medical healthcare system through the development of self-management skills. Health Navigation provides a viable solution to the problem of early mortality faced by those with serious mental illness. The Health Navigator Certification Training Program prepares agencies to implement healthcare reform through the provision of integrated services.

The training program includes 40 hours of classroom instruction (virtual or live), 4 coaching sessions and includes a Health Navigator Intervention Manual which describes in detail the skills and competencies needed to serve as a Health Navigator.

Ideal audience for this training includes:

Peer Support Specialists
Community Health Workers
Case Managers
Peer Advocates
Family members and others
Private Cohort: Up to 40 participants from one organization. Offered onsite at the agency upon request. (Multiple agencies (2-4) can host a collaborative agency cohort, sponsoring designated agency staff for certification.)
Community Cohort: Up to 40 participants from several organizations. Each agency is encouraged to sponsor 2 -10 staff members to receive training in the community cohort offered at PCTI.

To request information for a private cohort training for your agency, please contact: PCTI@pacificclinics.org

Published Articles on Health Navigation

Health Navigation Certification Training – A Widely Recognized Program
The Health Navigator Training Program and Health Navigation intervention itself has received federal recognition through multi-year funding from the UniHealth Foundation and PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute). Based on this success, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) has sponsored individuals for training from the Department and contracted providers since 2012.

Peer Navigators May Help Mentally Ill Take Charge of Their Health, September 26, 2013

Our Testimonials

"Health Navigation Training helped me in engaging consumers to start a conversation about their physical healthcare. The engagement skills allowed me to establish a trust and rapport with consumers that has led to them having a medical doctor for the first time in many years."

- Reba Stevens, Older Adult Community Outreach Advocate with Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health – Older Adult Community Outreach Advocate Project

"One of the consumers I work with on Skid Row is schizophrenic and has been homeless for five years. The Health Navigation Training taught me engagement tactics and the right wording to use to talk to her about her physical health. She’s now on medication and her mental health is improving a lot."

- Cheryl Morris, Peer Advocate with the JWCH Institute, Inc.

"When you take care of something that you’ve been afraid to do, such as seeing a primary care doctor, it really boosts your self-esteem. You feel empowered. "

- Catherine Clay, Peer Advocate Volunteer with the Women's Community Reintegration Services and Education Center

"The 75-year-old consumer whom I’ve been working with had cervical cancer and had an operation about three years ago, but she never went to any follow-up appointments. Using what I learned in the Health Navigation training, I started working with her to see a surgeon for a colonoscopy. I'd hate to think how much longer she would have gone without follow-up treatment if she wasn't working with a Health Navigator. Health Navigation really helps reluctant consumers who have not wanted to access primary care services. When consumers work one-on-one with a Health Navigator, it's hard for them to keep putting off seeing a doctor."

- Vera Calloway, Service Extender/Peer Advocate with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health – Special Service for Groups/Older Adult Program

“With the Health Navigation Training I learned how to coach our consumers to get a better quality of life. When I first engaged one consumer, I was surprised to learn he had not seen a primary care physician for 10 years. I took him to see a doctor who had me accompany the consumer to the ER immediately. This consumer was not aware he had diabetes and because of his poor health, one of his toes had to be amputated.

When released from the hospital, the consumer continued to eat unhealthy foods but after three months of continued coaching he made significant progress. He now measures his blood sugar level three times a day and records the results. He brings his records to his doctor’s appointments. He is now eating healthier foods and has started walking 10 to 15 minute per day despite his amputated toe. ”

- Boy Wong, Health Navigator/Peer Advocate, Pacific Clinics, Asian Pacific Family Center – Chinese Integrated Service Management Program

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