CWA Program | University of Alaska Southeast

A Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) is a lay health educator who completes a year-long basic health promotion training program, with the option of receiving a certificate upon completion of the 30-credit CWA university program.

Introduction Teaches students to successfully implement health promotion and health education activities in their community. It is ideal for village health and human service workers, such as Community Health Aides, Community Health Representatives, and others who want to help make a difference in the health of their community. CWA is an innovative distance-delivered program offered state-wide in cooperation with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. Students in the program have the opportunity to earn a UAS CWA Certificate. Core Course Requirements FALL (Semester 1) HS 125: Introduction to Health Promotion SPRING (Semester 2) HS 126: Health Promotion through Behavior Change SUMMER (Semester 3) HS 202: Community Health Promotion HS 127: Basic Nutrition and the Life Cycle or DN A203: Nutrition for Health Sciences FALL (Semester 4) HS 204: Introduction to Nutrition Education or HS S130: Public Health and Injury Prevention SPRING (Semester 5) HS S294: Nutrition Education Practicum HS S128: Food Safety and Preservation or HS S131: Role of Data in Injury Prevention SUMMER (Semester 6) HS S132: Managing Injury Prevention Programs Additional Course Requirements: Other General Education Requirement (GER) courses are required. Check with the program coordinator for details. Download informational brochures: CWA Certificate Program (pdf file) Nutrition Tracks (pdf file) Injury Prevention Tracks (pdf file Financial Aid For information on financial aid availability, contact the advising office at UAS Sitka Campus: (907) 747-7703 or stop by to talk to an advisor. Funding for eligible students may also be available through Native Health Corporations or Tribal Wellness Program.	Program Details How it Works: Three courses are taught over one academic year with weekly audio-conference classes. There are weekly assignments and 2-3 projects per course, and a final exam at the end of each course. Credits earned may be applied to the CWA certification program or other degree programs. HS 125 and HS 202 require a one week residency on the UAS Sitka campus. Students need access to the Internet. Financial aid is available to eligible certificate students. What You'll Learn: Basic information on public health and the health issues important to Alaskans. Changing individual behavior. Teaching methods. The building blocks of group and community health education.
Over 80% of CWA students are working in health promotion. Here is what they're doing (and this is the short list!): Health fairs Healthy food demonstrations Physical activity programs School health presentations Exercise classes Health screenings Community profiles
Faculty: Doug Osborne Faculty: Lisa Sadleir-Hart	Interested students should schedule an admission interview with Doug or Lisa 907-966-8735.
For program information contact Lisa Sadleir-Hart, Program Coordinator, 907-966-8735 or email: lisa.sadleir-hart@searhc.org Or to register: University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus, CWA Program, Cheryl Stromme at 907-747-9473 or 1-800-478-6653, ext. 9473 email: cheryl.stromme@uas.alaska.edu