About the Program

We offer two Connecting to Care training programs – a 24-hour Cultural Navigator course and a 10-hour Cultural Navigator in Public Health course.  The 24-hour course is geared towards working as a cultural navigator in a hospital, clinic, or other health care organization that treats patients. The 10-hour course is geared towards working as a cultural navigator in public health, as part of a public health team that is community-focused.

Our 24-hour course is designed for individuals, such as medical interpreters or community health workers, who want to enhance their daily work with patients or community members and the health care team. This 24-hour course introduces you to foundational knowledge and skills to support the patient or community member as they navigate the health care system, as well as connecting patient/community member to  local community resources that can help them achieve optimal health. Individuals who would benefit from this course include medical interpreters, community health workers, patient navigators, and cultural navigators, among others. This is an interactive course that includes group discussions, opportunities for reflection, case studies, and role plays.

The 10-hour course is somewhat similar in content and interactivity as the 24-hour one, but includes less material about navigating health care organizations/system, and working with patients as well as providers and other members of a health care team. Instead, it focuses on the role of the cultural navigator or community health worker in public health, and working as a member of a public health team to address community/public health issues, such as an outbreak of a communicable illness in a community, or informing the community about public health initiatives.

Upon successful completion of these courses, participants receive a certificate of completion.

What You Learn

During the training, you will learn about the key roles and competencies of a health care cultural navigator, and about the history of patient navigation. You will also gain an in-depth understanding about the barriers to equitable care that members of marginalized or vulnerable populations face, and how those barriers can be overcome through culturally competent support, patient/community member education, effective communication, teamwork, and person-centered care. You will learn how to help educate patients about accessing health care delivery systems and hospital support services – always working together with the patient’s treatment team.

In the 10-hour Cultural Navigator in Public Health training, the material and skills you learn pertain to working as a navigator in a public health setting or scenario, while the 24-hour course teaches content and skills relevant to navigators who work in health system, hospital or clinic settings.

The curriculum includes:

  • Key Roles and Competencies of a Cultural Navigator
  • Professional Ethics
  • The Culture of Western Medicine and Health Care System Models around the World (24 hour course only)
  • Health Equity/Health Disparities and Barriers to Equitable Care
  • The Social Determinants of Health
  • Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility
  • Structural Competency
  • Culturally Competent Language Services
  • Communication Skills
  • System Education and Coaching: skills and information to teach patients about the health care system and promote the patient’s autonomy. (24-hour course only)
  • Effective Advocacy
  • Person-Centered Care (24-hour course only)
  • Professional Development and Self-Care

Who Should Apply

Patient Navigators

Patient/cultural navigators or community health workers who work on-staff at a hospital or clinic can enhance their skills through formal training in an interactive classroom environment.

Medical Interpreters

Medical interpreters can expand their role by learning how to support patients outside of the interpreted session with the medical providers.

Community Health Workers

Professionals at community organizations, public health systems, or health care organizations that support improved health care access can gain skills to serve their clients more effectively.

Requirements

  • Applicants must be able to attend all 24 hours of training. Upon successful completion, participants receive a Connecting to Care: Cultural Navigator certificate.
  • Applicants must have one of the following:
    • Have a high school diploma, GED certificate, or university/college degree.
    • At least one year of experience working as a medical interpreter, community health worker, patient navigator, cultural navigator, a paraprofessional in health care, or patient advocate.

For questions about course requirements and the application process, the best way to contact us is via email at connectingtocare@xculture.org.  You can also call the Cross Cultural Health Care Program office at  206.860.0329, ext. 1236.

Waitlist

There are 15 spots available in each class. When a class becomes full, it will be indicated on the class event below. If you want to be added to the waitlist for a particular class, please submit an application. If a spot becomes available in the class, CCHCP will contact you via email and you will be asked to confirm your attendance and complete the remaining enrollment steps. You will need to communicate with CCHCP staff via email in a timely manner to complete the enrollment process.

Upcoming Classes

Cultural Navigator in Public Health Training (10-hours) – March 2025

Mar 18-21, 2025
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time

Online via Zoom
Tuesday-Friday
(9-10 AM Pacific Time on the last day)
Payment & application deadline: February 26, 2025

Cost: $275

Apply here!

Connecting to Care: Cultural Navigator Training (24-hours) – April 2025

Apr 21-29, 2025
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Online via Zoom
April 21-25, April 28-29, 2025
Monday-Friday
Cost: $500
Payment & application deadline: March 24, 2025

Apply here!

Cultural Navigator in Public Health Training (10-hours) – July 2025

Jul 22-25, 2025
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time

Online via Zoom
Tuesday-Friday
(9-10 AM Pacific Time on the last day)
Payment & application deadline: July 1st, 2025
Cost: $275

Apply here!

Connecting to Care: Cultural Navigator Training (24-hours) – August 2025

Aug 11-19, 2025

Online via Zoom
April 11-15, 18-19
Monday-Friday
Cost: $500
Payment & application deadline: July 14, 2025

Apply here!

After the training, you’ll have a clear idea of the role of a patient guide and what you can accomplish.

Registered Nurse