Health Navigator

Associate of Applied Science Degree & Certificates

The Health Navigator program is being offered as a cooperative program among three of Southern Colorado’s outstanding rural colleges; Otero Junior College, Lamar Community College and Trinidad State Junior College. Take the basic courses through the college nearest you, then finish the degree online through Otero Junior College.

Transforming Healthcare. Improving Outcomes. Reducing Costs.

A Health Navigator is an individual who works as part of a health care team or with a health care system to reduce barriers to accessing care. They guide individuals and families through the complex health care system, ensuring they fully utilize the services most appropriate for and available to them. This includes:

• Linking patients with services;
• Providing information and resources;
• Helping providers interact with patients; and
• Offering health education and promoting behavior changes.

Health Navigator includes Patient Navigator, Resource Navigator, Lay-Navigator, Non-licensed Navigator, etc., but not licensed providers or lay Community Health Workers.

Distance Learning Option

Study from home with full access to OJC faculty for support.
Scholarships and Financial Aid available for those who qualify.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER - Certificate

While a patient navigator works with individuals in health delivery settings, the community health worker works with individual residents in community settings.

Community Health Workers are trusted members of the community or intended population whom they serve. CHWs are connectors to health care system (providers, hospitals, community health programming, etc.) through referrals (“warm-handoffs”) based on relationships built with those systems and knowledge of interested individuals/entities within their community. CHWs implement outreach within their communities to provide basic health assessments and health education, community advocacy and capacity building/empowerment and connect/refer to culturally-tailored resources to reduce risk factors of the social determinants of health. CHWs may provide language interpretation and cultural brokering to assure culturally responsive services for their clients.

Employment opportunities are expected to grow nationally as a result of changes in health care. Preparation includes information and hands-on training in those skills needed to carry out this work, including written and verbal communication, ethics, interpersonal skills, problem-solving, human growth & development, barriers to health, basic health problems, community resources, cultural competency, end of life care, work habits and organization.

The course can be completed in one year of full-time study. This program prepares individuals for employment as Community Health Workers. Community Health Workers will assist clients, in a variety of settings serving as facilitators, advocates, and referral professionals linking them to health care and related social services.

HEALTH NAVIGATOR - AAS Degree with Emphasis

We are also working with four-year schools around the state to articulate this program to a bachelor’s degree.

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ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Trinidad State Junior College Students:

Apply for general college admission to Trinidad State College and Otero Junior College. Applying to TSC is free and can be completed online. Applying to OJC is free and can be completed online at: www.ojc.edu/apply_ojc.aspx

All general education courses will be completed on the Trinidad State Junior College campus with all program-specific courses completed online.

Otero Junior College Students:

Apply for general college admission to Otero Junior College. Applying to OJC is free and can be completed online at: www.ojc.edu/apply_ojc.aspx

All general education courses will be completed on the OJC campus with all program-specific courses completed online.

Lamar Community College Students:

Apply for general college admission to Lamar Community College and Otero Junior College. Applying to LCC is free and can be completed online at: www.lamarcc.edu/admission/. Applying to OJC is free and can be completed online at:www.ojc.edu/apply_ojc.aspx

All general education courses will be completed on the Lamar Community College campus with all program-specific courses completed online.

In addition, the student is required to:
1. Be a graduate of an accredited high school or equivalent.
2. Complete a background check and drug screen:
a. Practicum facilities require students to complete a drug screen prior to participating in field experience. This will be arranged through the college. Please plan to follow the procedures promptly when notified.
b. Students are required to take and pass the background check available at this website address: cccs.castlebranch.com/.

Note: The the background check fee is $80.20 and is the responsibility of the students and is in addition to the cost of tuition and fees.

LoriRae Hamilton

Dean of Instruction
ASHB 24
(719) 846-5524
Email