CCALAC is proud to announce a Certificate Program for Allied Health professionals. The 3-session program intends to equip community health center staff with the skills necessary to seek professional advancement. Or, affirm existing skills that support daily operations within your organization. Registrants can attend one session or receive a certificate of completion for all three.

Who should attend: Front Line staff including, Medical Assistants, LVNs, Community Health Outreach Workers, Outreach staff, Navigators, Case Managers, Dental Assistants and other professionals who directly serve patients of community health centers.

Session 2: Providing Customer Service to Patients Experiencing Distress

June 4, 2025 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm | virtual

Join us for a comprehensive training that will equip clinic staff to provide exceptional customer service during challenging encounters. The training will focus on the components of excellent customer service including how to connect with people experiencing distress. Further, it promotes communication and peer support to help clinic teams plan for agency-wide improvement.

Participants attending this session will:

• Understand why we need excellent customer service;
• Realize the power of emotional intelligence during the patient-staff interaction;
• Learn strategies for working with people experiencing distress;
• Discuss options for clinic system improvements.

Presented by Sara Watson, MCHES, Andrés Sánchez, MS, and Traci Bivens-Davis, MA

CCALAC Members and Affiliates $50 per course or, $100 Certification Program

Non-Members $75 per course or, $150 Certification Program

Register Now!

If you are planning on attending all three sessions for a certificate in the Allied Health Leadership Program, please email the Training Center at training@ccalac.org to receive a code to enter for the last training so that the last session will be no cost.

Courses in the program include:

• Building Trust and Navigating Healthy Conflict, May 14 — More Information — Register Now
• Leading from Within, June 25 — More Information — Register Now

Instructor Bio:

Sara Watson, MCHES, They/She, has worked at CCALAC as the Training and Events Specialist for the past 6 years and has over 15 years of experience in health education. Sara teaches mental health first aid and works with communities on CPR and first aid instruction. Prior to working with CCALAC, Sara worked as a Policy and Advocacy Director in Los Angeles where they focused on behavioral health integration with under-resourced communities and improving access to quality health care. In their free time, Sara enjoys the outdoors, especially the ocean where they are a divemaster and teach SCUBA diving. 

Andrés Sánchez, MS, is a health equity leader and workforce strategist committed to strengthening and diversifying the healthcare workforce. As Workforce Program Manager, they lead initiatives advancing racial equity while overseeing the AHEC Scholars and CREW programs. Andres previously served on the CCALAC JEDI Committee and is currently part of the Managing to Leading cohort. 

Traci Bivens-Davis, MA, brings over 20 years of advocacy, programming, planning, and research targeting persons thriving with or at-risk for chronic health conditions. Traci is a former Center for Disease Control Intervention Trainer and Engagement Coordinator for REACH LA where she collaborated with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Centers to navigate youth into primary and specialty care. As the Assistant Director of Training and Equity at CCALAC, Traci is responsible for the daily operations of the Training Center as well as the lead for the organization’s anti-racist organizational change initiative.   

The Allied Health Leadership Certificate Program is generously supported by Cedars –Sinai and UniHealth Foundation.