There is a growing respect in our organization for the field of Health Education & Promotion based on the accomplishments and certifications of the Patient Education & Health Promotion Department and their staff at Shasta Community Health Center. Clinicians are seeing the great value of having a CHES®/MCHES® Certified Health Educator Specialist on staff.

The CHES®/MCHES® certification is the gold standard for health education, which we greatly value. As we focus on delivering high-quality and high-value care to the populations we serve in a competitive and constantly evolving environment, the CHES®/MCHES® credential ensures we are achieving that goal. Due to the continuing education requirements of CHES®/MCHES®, I know our consultants are staying current in this ever-evolving landscape.

Individuals that possess CHES®/MCHES® immediately demonstrate a breadth and depth of knowledge for the effective delivery of evidence-based programming for health promotion and education. Our experience has demonstrated that those who possess a Tier 1 credential are the most prepared to be part of the Army Wellness Center Team.

The CHES® certification signifies that an educator has an advanced knowledge of education techniques and experience. We find that CHES® prepared educators are well-rounded and they bring a different perspective to program design and information delivery. In the health education space, this is an important credential that we value.

The Tulsa Health Department avidly seeks CHES® eligible applicants when hiring and/or recruiting – our agency views this as a benefit that enhances our public health workforce. By hiring CHES® certified applicants, THD is able to take advantage of the rich expertise of these individuals that have a greater understanding and skill set with relation to health education and promotion and a broader understanding of the community. Enhancing our public health workforce with Certified Health Education Specialists also provides our organization with credibility.

We currently have 21 health coaches who hold the CHES® or MCHES® certification. All of our health coaches receive a health certification within the first six months of hire, and can receive up to four additional certifications that WebMD will fund.

Montefiore has required the CHES® credential for its health education positions since 2006. The credential has served as a means of highlighting talented individuals with a broad understanding of the health education profession and its application within the diverse communities that we serve as an academic medical center.