Empowering a new generation of health equity leaders

BLKHLTH CARES: Healthcare Access and Navigation is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in health equity, community health, and helping people navigate healthcare systems.

Applicants should:

• Currently be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college, university, community college, or other postsecondary institution in the Atlanta metro area or the Albany/Southwest Georgia region

• Be interested in gaining on-the-ground field experience in community health

• Want to pursue a career in public health, healthcare, social work, health promotion, pharmacy, or a related field

• Be interested in working directly with community members to support healthcare and social service access

• Be able to participate for the full 8-month fellowship

• Be able to coordinate their own transportation and travel for required in-person activities, community events, and potential meetings with community members within their respective regional hub

• Demonstrate strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills

• Have reliable access to internet and phone service for virtual programming, fellowship communications, and communication with community members

• Be committed to advancing health equity in Black communities

Students in non-clinical and pre-clinical programs are especially encouraged to apply. Previous patient navigation or community health experience is not required.

Previous CARES fellows are welcome to apply. There is no age requirement for this cohort.

BLKHLTH CARES is an 8-month fellowship (October 2026 - May 2027) that combines interactive training with hands-on healthcare navigation experience.

During the first portion of the fellowship, fellows will typically participate in two training sessions per month. Fellows will then complete a 90-day supervised community navigation experience, during which they will support community members in connecting to healthcare and social services, identifying resources, addressing barriers to care, and sharing appropriate health education. Training will generally shift to one group session per month during the community navigation experience.

Programming will include a combination of interactive learning, group discussion, practical skill-building, case review, and direct experience supporting community members.

The fellowship incorporates concepts and skills commonly used in Community Health Worker practice, giving fellows exposure to community-based health support and navigation. However, BLKHLTH CARES is not a formal Community Health Worker training or certification program, and participation does not confer CHW certification or credentialing.

Fellows should plan to participate consistently throughout the entire fellowship and complete all required training, navigation, evaluation, and program activities.

Fellows who successfully complete the required training and 90-day community navigation experience will receive a $2,000 stipend.

Stipend eligibility is contingent upon meeting program participation and completion requirements.

• Applications Due: September 9, 2026

• Interviews Begin: Late September 2026

• First Fellowship Session: Late October 2026

1. What is BLKHLTH CARES?

BLKHLTH CARES is a health equity advocacy and leadership fellowship that prepares emerging health professionals to better understand and address barriers to healthcare access in Black communities.

Participants, known as Community Health Fellows, receive training focused on health equity, community health, patient advocacy, healthcare navigation, and skills informed by Community Health Worker practice. Fellows then apply what they have learned through a supervised community navigation experience.

2. Is BLKHLTH CARES a Community Health Worker training program?

No. BLKHLTH CARES is not a formal Community Health Worker training or certification program.

The fellowship introduces fellows to many concepts and skills that Community Health Workers may use, including community engagement, resource navigation, advocacy, communication, and addressing barriers to care. The goal is to provide meaningful exposure to community health and navigation work rather than prepare fellows for an official CHW credential.

Participants will be referred to as Community Health Fellows, not Community Health Workers.

3. Will I become a certified Community Health Worker after completing the fellowship?

No. Completion of BLKHLTH CARES does not result in CHW certification, licensure, or another formal Community Health Worker credential.

Fellows will gain practical experience that may be useful for future work or training in community health, public health, healthcare navigation, and related fields.

4. Who should apply?

We welcome undergraduate and graduate students interested in public health, healthcare, social work, health promotion, pharmacy, community health, and related fields.

You do not need to be pursuing a clinical degree or have previous patient navigation experience. We are looking for fellows who are dependable, compassionate, comfortable communicating with different people, and committed to health equity.

5. Do I need to attend school in Atlanta or Albany to apply?

Applicants should be currently enrolled in a college, university, community college, or other postsecondary institution in either the Atlanta metro area or the Albany/Southwest Georgia region.

For the Albany hub, eligibility is not limited to schools located within the city of Albany or Dougherty County. Students attending schools in surrounding Southwest Georgia communities may also be eligible to apply.

Because the fellowship includes some required in-person activities, applicants should be able to participate in activities connected to their regional hub when needed.

6. Do I need previous healthcare or patient navigation experience?

No. Previous experience is not required.

The fellowship is designed to provide training and practical experience before fellows begin working directly with community members.

7. What will fellows learn?

Fellows will build skills related to:

• Health equity and the social determinants of health

• Community Health Worker-informed approaches

• Patient advocacy and healthcare navigation

• Identifying and addressing barriers to care

• Communication and relationship-building

• Connecting people with healthcare and community resources

• Documentation, case review, and follow-up

• Working within appropriate professional and ethical boundaries

8. What does the community navigation experience involve?

During the 90-day community navigation experience, fellows will work with community members who may need support connecting to healthcare and social services, finding resources, understanding health information, preparing for or following up on care, and navigating barriers that make accessing services more difficult.

Throughout the experience, fellows will also document what they are seeing and learning about barriers to healthcare access. These insights will help inform a broader healthcare access agenda that reflects community needs and identifies opportunities to improve access and equity.

Community Health Fellows are not serving as healthcare providers or certified Community Health Workers. All activities will take place within a defined scope and with supervision from the BLKHLTH CARES team.

9. How much time should I expect to commit?

During the training period, fellows will generally attend two sessions per month lasting two hours each. During the 90-day community navigation experience, fellows will generally participate in one group session per month, along with their assigned navigation responsibilities, supervision, and program documentation.

Applicants should consider whether they can consistently participate for the full 8-month fellowship (October 2026 - May 2027) before applying.

10. Is the fellowship virtual or in person?

The fellowship is primarily virtual, and most training sessions will take place online.

However, fellows should also expect some required in-person activities throughout the program. These may include select training sessions, community health events in Atlanta and Albany, Georgia, and occasional in-person meetings with community members during the community navigation experience.

BLKHLTH may also offer optional in-person social and networking opportunities for fellows throughout the program.

Applicants should be prepared to participate in both virtual programming and required in-person activities as part of the fellowship.

11. Is there a stipend?

Yes. Fellows who successfully complete the required training and 90-day community navigation experience will receive a $2,000 stipend.

12. Do fellows provide medical advice?

No. Fellows do not diagnose conditions, provide clinical care, or give medical advice.

Their role is to help community members understand and navigate healthcare and community resources, identify barriers to care, and connect people with appropriate services and support.

13. What happens after I apply?

Applications will be reviewed by the BLKHLTH team based on eligibility, interest in health equity and community health, demonstrated interpersonal skills, and ability to commit to the fellowship.

Selected applicants will receive additional information about onboarding, the program calendar, participation requirements, and next steps.