Community Health Workers in Kansas Pharmacies

The American Public Health Association defines a community health worker as:

a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.


Sounds like the work of someone in a pharmacy? We agree!

CHW Certificate Training options

  • CEimpact

    If you're already practicing as a technician in a pharmacy, you may be doing some of the work of a CHW already! CEimpact offers a CHW training course specific to pharmacy technicians. 


    When: 6 week cohorts enrolling Jan, Feb, & April 2026

    Price: $1500 - there may be scholarships available, please email amanda@ksrx.org prior to enrollment 

    Learn more and enroll

  • KU Med

    This virtual training will help you build skills, deepen knowledge, and succeed in the CHW profession. Participants in this training will develop essential competencies in communication, advocacy, coordination of care, and cultural responsiveness.

     

    Participants who complete this training will be eligible to receive $1,000 upon training completion. *Restrictions apply. 

     

    There is an applicant screening process, which includes a brief application form and short phone call. Upon completion of the screening process, interested applicants may receive additional enrollment information.


    When: Feb - May 2026

    Cost: FREE!

    Learn more and apply

  • Wyandotte County

    This in-person course is offered several times per year, taking place at the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County. Participants will learn the core competencies to become a certified CHW as well as dive deep into the resources available in the Kansas City metro area


    Cost: $1395

    Learn more

Convinced and ready to get started? KPhA currently has a grant available to train pharmacy personnel (clerks, delivery drivers, pharmacy technicians) as CHWs, with an implementation payment available for the pharmacy as well.

Apply for the grant

Interested in learning more?

KPhA, along with partners at the CHW Coalition, KDHE, and the Community Care Network of Kansas are offering a webinar series to learn more about being a pharmacy-based community health worker. Join us for free CE and learn about new career opportunities or opportunities for growth in your current position!


Upcoming virtual sessions


  • Strengthening Pharmacy Care Through Community Health Workers
  • This presentation provides an introduction to the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and their value within pharmacy and healthcare settings. Participants will explore how CHWs serve as trusted links between patients, healthcare teams, and community resources to improve health outcomes and address social determinants of health. The course highlights the ways CHWs support pharmacists through patient education, medication adherence, care coordination, and resource navigation. Learners will also examine the benefits of integrating CHWs into interdisciplinary care teams and learn key components of an effective referral process for CHW services within pharmacy practice. By the end of the session, participants will better understand how collaboration between pharmacists and CHWs can enhance patient-centered care.
  • Presented by: Angela Scott and Treva Smith of the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition
  • Audience: Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists
  • Register for the live session - Tuesday, June 30th - 3pm
  • Beyond the Prescription: Best practices for CHWs conducting SDOH screenings in pharmacy settings
  • Follow up to our Intro to SDOH Surveys sessions
  • This training explores the role of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in influencing medication adherence, chronic disease management, and overall patient health outcomes. Participants will learn how to identify SDOH screening information, develop more comprehensive patient-centered care plans, and collaborate effectively with Community Health Workers (CHWs) to address social barriers and connect individuals to community resources. The training also highlights strategies for integrating CHWs into pharmacy and healthcare settings, supporting referrals, and conducting effective, person-centered SDOH screenings to improve health outcomes and whole-person care.
  • Presented by: Angela Scott and Treva Smith of the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition
  • Audience: Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists
  • Register for the live session - Friday, September 4th - 1pm


Join us in-person at the KPhA Annual Meeting


  • Social determinants of health and other screenings
  • One of the key roles of a community health worker is the ability to screen community members and patients for social needs, as well as respond to those needs to get the person assistance. Learn more about types of screenings available, how to use the screenings, and how to respond when someone needs help.
  • Presented by: Angela Scott and Treva Smith of the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition
  • Friday, August 28th - 10:45am
  • Role of Community Health Workers in Community Pharmacy
  • In this fireside chat, Hunter and Jake will evaluate the urgent need for advanced pharmacy technicians in every pharmacy. From business administration to community health workers, pharmacy technicians are the backbone of a thriving business. Learn how to evaluate the roles of technicians and find the right partner for the right location at the right time in your pharmacy.
  • Presented by: Jake Galdo, PharmD of CPESN Community Health and Hunter Phillips, CPhT, CHW
  • Friday, August 28th - 3:55pm


On demand coming soon!


  • What is the role of a CHW in a community pharmacy?
  • Learn about the impact of a CHW in a community pharmacy from someone who's been in the role for years
  • Presented by: CPESN Community Health
  • Audience: CHWs, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists
  • Community Comes First - The Role of the Community Pharmacy Technician
  • What is a day in the life of a community pharmacy technician like? What does the training, certification, and licensure look like to become a certified pharmacy technician?
  • Presented by Sam Melendez, CPhT and Delanny Cherry, CPhT of Damm Pharmacies
  • Audience: CHWs, pharmacy technicians
  • Clinics Care - The Role of the Clinic Pharmacy Technician
  • What is a day in the life of a pharmacy technician in a clinic setting like? What does the training, certification, and licensure look like to become a certified pharmacy technician working in a clinic environment?
  • Presented by: Ben Purcell, CPhT of Salina Family Healthcare
  • Audience: CHWs, pharmacy technicians
  • Social determinants of health and other screenings
  • One of the key roles of a community health worker is the ability to screen community members and patients for social needs, as well as respond to those needs to get the person assistance. Learn more about types of screenings available, how to use the screenings, and how to respond when someone needs help.
  • Presented by: Angela Scott and Treva Smith of the Kansas Community Health Worker Coalition
  • Audience: CHWs, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists



Opportunities for Kansas pharmacy community health workers

  • CPESN Contracts

    CPESN Kansas has two contracts where pharmacies are paid to complete an annual health risk survey with KanCare members - one even offers a reward payment to the member as well!

  • Diabetes Screening & Education

    • Screen your community for pre-diabetes and refer to clinics and diabetes prevention programs if the results come back high
    • A CHW can be trained to host a nationally recognized Diabetes Prevention Program - KPhA will help you build the connections to get you paid for the service!
    • Screen your patients with diabetes for their social needs - a patient without access to healthy foods won't do as well as a patient with access

  • Patient Assistance Program Management

    Feels good to hand over a medication at no cost to your patients, right? Having a technician CHW skilled at helping patients obtain assistance through a pharmaceutical company's patient assistance program can be an amazing service for your community.

  • Healthy Heart Ambassador

    Train a community health worker to offer the Healthy Heart Ambassasor program in your pharmacy to improve your community's heart health!