EOCCO Community & Traditional Health Worker Continuing Education

Support Your Community Through Cancer Awareness and Prevention

As a Community Health Worker or Personal Health Navigator, you are a vital link between individuals and the health care resources they need.

This in-person training equips you with essential tools to educate, support, and empower your community around cancer prevention, screening, and care.

Whether you're new to cancer education or looking to deepen your understanding, this training will help you strengthen your impact where it matters most.

Course Description

This interactive, in-person session offers a foundational overview of the cancer control continuum—from prevention and risk reduction to screening and early detection.

You will explore:

How cancer develops and spreads
Lifestyle and environmental factors influencing cancer risk
The latest cancer screening guidelines and recommendations
How CHWs can increase access to cancer-related services in underserved communities

Through real-world scenarios, group discussions, and hands-on learning, this course helps you become a stronger advocate and educator in your community.

Why This CHW Training Matters

This Community Health Worker course goes beyond theory—it’s designed to give you the practical tools and knowledge you can apply immediately in your role as a CHW or Personal Health Navigator.

Not only will you fulfill the 2 CEUs required for Traditional Health Workers, but you’ll walk away with renewed confidence in your ability to discuss cancer prevention, early detection, and screening with the individuals and families you serve.

You'll gain up-to-date information rooted in current guidelines, explore real-world scenarios, and learn from an instructor who has walked in your shoes.

Hannah Briggs brings lived experience as a CHW and deep expertise in community-based care—so you’ll be learning from someone who understands your challenges and shares your commitment to supporting others.

By completing this training, you’ll strengthen your ability to serve as a trusted, knowledgeable advocate in your community—helping more people access the care and support they need.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this training, you will be able to:

Define cancer and explain how it develops in the body
Recognize key risk and protective factors that influence cancer outcomes
Understand current cancer screening guidelines and early detection strategies
Identify the role of CHWs in raising awareness, promoting prevention, and connecting clients to resources

Who Should Attend This CHW Training?

This course is designed for:

Community Health Workers (CHWs)
Personal Health Navigators
Traditional Health Workers seeking to fulfill CEU requirements

CEUs: This course has been approved for 2 continuing education units (CEUs) by the **Oregon Health Authority to support Traditional Health Worker (THW) development.

June 15, 2026

2 hours

Ontario, OR

Free

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Additional Information: Approved for 2 CEUs by the Oregon Health Authority

Instructors

Carina Garcia

Carina is a Community Cancer Control Specialist for OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute. Carina supports the collaboration between community members and community-based organizations, researchers, and private or public agencies to address cancer-related needs in rural Northeast Oregon.

Marina Banderas

Marina Banderas is the Traditional Health Worker (THW) Liaison for Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization (EOCCO), where she supports Traditional Health Workers across Eastern Oregon through workforce development, community partnership building, education, and systems navigation. With a background as a Community Health Worker, Marina has experience helping bridge the gap between healthcare systems and the communities they serve through culturally responsive, community-centered care.

Marina has played a key role in supporting THW engagement, strengthening provider relationships, and advancing awareness of the value Traditional Health Workers bring to healthcare teams and underserved communities. She is passionate about empowering CHWs and THWs with practical tools, advocacy skills, and education that can strengthen health outcomes and improve access to care.

Past Students' Work

Take a look at some recent projects our students have created.