Urban Wellness Advocate Training Materials
“Real Hood Health” Curriculum: What We Actually Teach
The Urban Wellness Advocate Program is a 12-week intensive certification that trains Oakland youth and residents to become paid community health workers serving their own neighborhoods.
This isn’t a feel-good volunteer program — it’s professional workforce development that opens career pathways starting at $15–18/hour.
The Complete 12-Week Curriculum
Module 1: Health & Wellness Fundamentals (Week 1)
Understanding Oakland’s 15-year life expectancy gap. The nervous system and whole-body health.
Social determinants creating health disparities. Why individual health equals community health.
Module 2: Food Security & Nutrition Foundations (Week 2)
Food sovereignty vs. food security. Teaching culturally relevant nutrition on a budget.
Navigating Oakland’s food systems.
Practice: Cook and share a meal with someone.
Module 3: Water Security & Environmental Health (Week 3)
Lead exposure, water quality testing, filter installation. Environmental justice in Oakland.
Practice: Conduct a water audit.
Module 4: Health Literacy & Community Empowerment (Week 4)
Translating medical jargon. Helping families navigate healthcare systems.
Building trust in communities harmed by medical racism.
Practice: Healthcare navigation role plays.
Module 5: Community Program Design & Facilitation (Week 5)
Designing wellness programs for youth, adults, and seniors. Facilitation and leadership skills.
Practice: Present your program design.
Module 6: Data Collection & Community Research (Week 6)
Why data matters for funding and policy. Ethical health metrics collection — blood pressure, glucose, BMI.
Community-based research participation.
Module 7: Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Care (Week 7)
Recognizing symptoms of mental health challenges. When to refer vs. when to support.
Understanding trauma and cultural approaches to wellness.
Module 8: Chronic Disease Prevention & Management (Week 8)
Diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Teaching prevention and lifestyle interventions.
Supporting medication adherence.
Module 9: Community Organizing & Advocacy (Week 9)
Organizing for change. Advocating for health equity through policy.
Building collective community power.
Module 10: Resource Navigation (Week 10)
Navigating Oakland’s health and social services: Medi-Cal, housing, food programs, and free care options.
Module 11: Cultural Competency & Humility (Week 11)
Serving Oakland’s diverse communities. Understanding cultural health beliefs and personal biases.
When to defer to traditional healing practices.
Module 12: Professional Development & Sustainability (Week 12)
Preventing burnout. Setting boundaries. Resume building and job readiness.
Career pathways and sustaining long-term impact.
What’s Included in the Training
Online Learning
-
Self-paced modules with professional workbooks
-
Video instruction and case studies
-
Practice scenarios and reflection exercises
-
~5 hours per week for 8 weeks
In-Person Intensives
-
4 Saturday workshops (8 AM–4 PM)
-
Hands-on skills practice
-
Guest speakers from healthcare and public health
-
Real equipment training
Field Practice
-
4 hours per week on actual mobile wellness units (Weeks 5–12)
-
Supervised by experienced advocates
-
Real family interactions and case exposure
Certification
-
CPR/First Aid certification included
-
Final assessment and professional credential
-
Job placement support after graduation
Download Sample Materials
[DOWNLOAD WEEK 1 WORKBOOK SAMPLE] (PDF, 12 pages)
Preview our actual training materials and see how participants learn in real-world settings.
Included Topics:
-
Understanding Oakland’s life expectancy gap
-
Self-assessment: Your wellness journey
-
Practice scenarios: First community conversations
-
Reflection exercises
For Organizations Interested in Replicating This Model
We believe this model can and should be scaled nationally.
If your city or organization is interested in adapting our Urban Wellness Advocate Curriculum, we welcome collaboration.
📧 Contact: support@handsforlifelm.org