Community Health Aide Program - CHAP

The Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) is a sustainable, successful, and culturally acceptable health care delivery system in Alaska Native villages. With focused training and support, Community Health Aides deliver quality care in rural environments. KANA currently employs 11 Community Health Aides to serve the communities of Akhiok, Larsen Bay, Port Lions, Old Harbor, and Ouzinkie. 

The CHAP profession is unique to Alaska, and is one of the most important health care Providers roles in rural communities. Community Health Aides work under the supervision of a referral physician, communicating frequently by telemedicine, telephone, e-mail or radio. 

What is a Community Health Aide?

Community Health Aides are local people who are trained to become a healthcare provider in their community. Not only are they seeing patients during normal clinic hours but must also provide on-call service after hours. They receive training at one of a few training centers in Alaska to work within the guidelines of the Alaska Community Health Aide/Practitioner Manual (CHAM). Being a Community Health Aide/Practitioner is a demanding position with the health care of the community being their responsibility twenty-four hours a day. It’s important that they are supported by everyone including, their family, their community members, village leadership, and corporate leadership.

Community Health Aides use the Alaska Community Health Aide/Practitioner Manual to guide them through obtaining a medical history, performing a physical examination, making an assessment, and planning care. The manual is now in electronic format and Community Health Aides can access it digitally. CHAs see a variety of patients including elders, pregnant women, infants and children, accident victims, and mental health and chronic disease patients. CHAs also coordinate the appointments of other visiting health care professionals who regularly visit the village to provide care, including public health nurses, dentists, and doctors.

Becoming a Community Health Aide

• You must be employed by Indian HEalth Services, a Tribe or Tribal Health organization, such as KANA, that operates a Community Health Aide Program
• Review application materials and the specialized training matrix on CHAP Certification Board website
• Work with supervisor to determine which matrix is most appropriate for you to help develop a training plan
• Complete certification requirements and application for certification and submit to CHAP Certification Board

Training centers are located in Anchorage, Bethel, Nome, and Fairbanks. CHAs take part in four sessions of training, each lasting three to four weeks. Between sessions, the CHAs work in their clinics completing a skills list and practicum. Completion of the four-session training curriculum and successful completion of a clinical skills preceptorship and examination qualify the CHA as a Community Health Practitioner (CHP). CHA/Ps at any level of training may obtain certification by the Community Health Aide Program Certification Board.