TEC’s Mental Health Community Health Worker Program

Welcome to TEC’s Mental Health Community Health Worker Academy!

Bringing Whole‑Person Care to the Community

TEC’s Mental Health CHW Academy was established to fill the gap of mental health professionals and to develop a much‑needed workforce that links the community to healthcare and social service systems.

In this comprehensive 12-week virtual program, your personal story merges with clinical training, empowering you to be a trusted messenger to youth, families, and those in your community!

Program Components & Core Skills

Through lived experience and evidence‑based training, we equip CHWs with the skills they need to bridge the gap between wellness and well-being:

Trauma‑Informed Mental Health First Aid
Individual & Community Capacity Building
Mental Health & Behavioral Health Promotion
Disease Prevention, Cultural Mediation & Advocacy
Health & Social Service System Navigation
Home Visitation & Patient Navigation
Workforce Integration & Organizational Readiness

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Hear Our Graduates

Spring 2025 Cohort #4

Winter 2025 Cohort #3

Fall 2024 Cohort #1‑2

Who Is This Program For?

Youth & Young Adults

Ages 18–24 seeking meaningful careers in mental health, education, and community‑based organizations.

New Workforce Entrants

Individuals entering the mental and behavioral health field who want hands‑on training and certification.

Incumbent Workers

Current staff in healthcare, social services, education, or nonprofits looking to upskill—especially those working with youth and families.

Important Dates for Upcoming 2026 Cohorts

Spring 2026 Cohort	TEC’s Mental Health Community Health Worker Academy
Orientation (Mandatory)	Thursday, January 29th, 2026 \| 4:00pm – 8:00pm
First Day of Class	Monday, February 2nd, 2026 \| 4:00pm – 8:00pm
12-Week Course Schedule	Monday: “Mental Health Mondays” & LIVE Lecture on Zoom \| 4:00pm – 8:00pm Tuesday: LIVE Lecture on Zoom \| 4:00pm – 8:00pm Thursday: LIVE Lecture on Zoom \| 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Last Day of Class	Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 Submission of Finals, Practicum Hours and Assignments
Graduation (In-Person)	May 2026

IMPORTANT NOTE: Participants must be a California Resident and connected to or represented by an organization to enroll in this program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this class online or in-person?

TEC’s Mental Health Community Health Worker Program is delivered 100% online. There are no in-person requirements in order to participate in classes. There is an in-person graduation at the end of each cohort.

How long is the class?

TEC’s Mental Health Community Health Worker Program is 12 weeks long. Mandatory LIVE classes are held weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4pm – 8pm. Note: Times for LIVE classes are subject to change based on the needs of each cohort.

How is the class material delivered?

Our comprehensive curriculum is delivered through Asynchronous (Self-paced) learning through the Canvas platform and Synchronous (group class) learning through weekly LIVE classes held via Zoom. We also provide weekly Supportive Services that can be accessed virtually via Zoom.

What do I need to participate in this class?

You will need a computer with a connection to the Internet, a webcam, headphones with a microphone, and a quiet place to learn. You will also need to download and install Zoom onto your device to access our LIVE weekly classes. If you do not have any of the following items above, please request technology assistance on your registration form.

What do I do if I need a quiet work space and an internet connection?

The Empowerment Center now has satellite offices in both Temecula and San Bernardino! If you are in need of a quiet workspace and stable internet connection, please contact our program staff so that we can make arrangements to host a workspace for you.

NOTE: If you are a partner community organization that is willing to host on-site quiet workspaces for program participants, please contact our program staff.

Is this training program free?

If you describe yourself as one or more of the following groups, you can attend this training program with a grant-funded scholarship! Please request the scholarship using the registration form below.

Youth (16-24)
California Registered Apprentices
Emancipated and Current Foster Youth
Single Moms
Members of Indigenous / Tribal Communities
Members of BIPOC Communities (Black Indigenous People of Color)
Reentry & Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Unemployed Individuals
Individuals with Disability(s)
Housing Insecure

A Special Thanks to Our Funders!

The Empowerment Center is an awardee of the Resilient Workforce Fund for our High Road Training Partnership, to train and deploy an army of mental health professionals and trusted messengers to build a resilient workforce for youth and families across the state of CA.

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The California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) Grant provides funding for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs to serve opportunity youth who are disconnected or are at risk of disconnection from systems such as education, employment, housing and more. TEC’s Resilient Workforce Career Readiness Program provides these comprehensive supportive services to registered apprentices across California.

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TEC is a recipient of the City of Temecula’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for our Youth Mental Health Community Worker Program, developed to train and deploy an army of Youth (16-24) CHWs to address the mental health needs of our community.

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Additional Supportive Services Available for Registered Apprentices include:

VIRTUAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUPS | GAS CARDS FOR TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE | EMERGENCY HOUSING SUPPORT

If you are a Youth (16-24) who is currently participating in a California Registered Apprenticeship, please click here to sign up for supportive services!