BCC Accepting Applications to Community Health Worker Program

08:00AM / Friday, January 05, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is accepting applications to its Community Health Worker program, part of the College's Workforce Development

curriculum.

The next cohort takes place February 15 through May 7, 2024.

The Community Health Worker program provides rigorous training for public health workers to serve as liaisons between traditionally underserved populations and health/social service providers. The program benefits anyone interested in exploring educational and career pathways in community health, human services, healthcare or public health.

Students enrolled in the Community Health Worker program learn about essential topics relevant to community health work in Berkshire County, such as chronic diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, physical and mental disabilities, reproductive health issues, domestic violence, mental health and trauma. The program also addresses community health work in emergency situations and contact tracing as a tool for preventing the spread of infectious disease.

The certificate program at BCC includes 42 hours of face-to-face instruction, 42 hours of online instruction and 20 hours of fieldwork at a local non-profit organization. Three-hour classes are held once a week from 6-9 pm, alternating between face-to-face and online classes. Coursework content is designed by public health professionals and delivered by specialists directly involved in community health work in Berkshire County.

Workforce Training at BCC offers a range of educational resources designed for individuals, businesses and organizations. In addition to community health worker certification, the department currently offers instruction for certified nursing assistants, medical interpreters, phlebotomy technicians and group fitness instructors.

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Pittsfield Seeks CPA Funds for Bike Racks, AED

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
07:17PM / Sunday, October 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to apply for Community Preservation Act funds for park bike racks and an AED machine at the pickleball fields.

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission endorsed Pittsfield’s applications for CPA funds.

"Both of those projects are certainly, relative to CPA funds, low cost but high benefit," Commissioner Anthony DeMartino said.

Through CPA, bike racks are proposed for a few city parks, and the Berkshire Mountain Pickleball league is looking to place an automatic external defibrillator at the Benedict Avenue pickleball fields.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath and Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Jennifer VanBramer presented the two small project applications, which will go through an eligibility period before full consideration in the spring of 2027.

During the city’s free, six-week, summer playground program, it was observed that many kids access parks by bicycle. The plan is to buy between six and eight racks to be placed at Durant Park, the Common, and Clapp Park; other parks are being considered as well.

McGrath explained that the three parks hosting the playground program don’t have bike racks, and they wind up on the ground and sometimes become a distraction.

"The ancillary benefit to having bike racks is that it encourages that mode of transportation for folks that want to come to the park on their bike," he said.

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