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!


Register today for these upcoming sessions!

  • 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
  • On-demand coming soon! Live session - Thursday, April 30th - 7-8pm
  • What is a Community Health Worker? 
  • Learn about the roles and responsibilities of a CHW, who is best suited to be a CHW, and what is involved in earning and maintaining your CHW Certification in Kansas
  • 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 - POSTPONED
  • 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
  • Register for the live session - Wednesday, June 3rd - 2pm
  • 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
  • Register for the live session - Wednesday, June 10th - 1pm
  • 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
  • Register for the live session - Wednesday, June 17th - 1pm


Registration coming soon!

  • Kansas Medicaid CHW Billing
  • Many practice settings are able to bill for the work of a CHW that benefits their patients - learn more about how to enroll and bill for this work. While pharmacies are not yet included in this work, KPhA has been advocating that pharmacies should be included in this policy.
  • Presented by: Community Care Network of Kansas
  • Audience: CHWs, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians


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!