Community As Medicine
Learning Collaborative
We help forward-thinking YMCAs and community-based organizations build financially sustainable, equity-centered, and joyful group health coaching programs.
The Community as Medicine (CAM) Learning Collaborative is a year-long training and technical assistance opportunity for innovative YMCAs and community-based organizations (CBOs). Participating teams will build or expand their health coaching offerings, strengthen clinical integrations, and explore new opportunities for revenue generation that align with their strategic goals.
Selected organizations are trained to deliver “Community as Medicine,” a nationally-recognized, trauma-informed, group health coaching intervention that reduces depression, anxiety, blood pressure, social isolation and hospital utilization among other outcomes. CAM is transdiagnostic, meaning that there aren’t rigid eligibility criteria, and it is designed to support diverse groups of individuals with a wide range of physical and mental health challenges. The CAM model allows organizations to address mental, physical, and social health in one integrative, flexible, and high-impact program.
If you have coaches who want to become NBHWC certified, you don't have to wait for the next Learning Collaborative cycle to kick off. You can enroll your health coaches in our training program at any time.
"Thanks to the coaching and support from the Open Source Wellness team, we've gained the skills to confidently connect with new clinics and payers, secured new funding, and trained more staff to become NBHWC-certified health coaches. Being part of the learning collaborative has truly been a game-changer for us empowering our team to think creatively about how to integrate an innovative program into our suite of wellness offerings."
Jess Giffin, Director of Community Wellbeing, YMCA of Metro Denver
“Open Source Wellness is our official NBHWC-approved training program- after evaluating over 110 programs for potential partnership, Open Source Wellness stood out as our clear choice. From its overall philosophy and results-proven approach to team training expertise and depth of curriculum, Open Source Wellness and its Community as Medicine Coach Training program truly are impressive and most aligned with our YMCA needs and values.”
Tim Klein, Director of Health and Wellbeing Coaching, YMCA of the North
The Community As Medicine Learning Collaborative provides customized group and individual support for program leaders and frontline staff to ensure successful design and implementation of a CAM program.
Training and support focuses on our six core components to ensure YMCAs are prepared to launch effective, outcome-oriented health coaching programs.
2025 Timeline:
- Applications Open: Oct 25, 2024
- Applications Due: Nov 27, 2024
- Applicant Interviews: Early December
- Selected Organizations Notified: Dec 31, 2024
- Kickoff Event for Selected Organizations: February 10, 2025
- Phase I Begins: March 1, 2025
- Phase II Begins (Health Coach Training Program): August 2025
- Phase III Begins (Facilitation Training): January 2026
- Phase IV Begins (CAM Program Launch): March 2026
Selected Organizations Receive:
- Up to $5,000 credit towards health coach training program or continuing education credits
- 1:1 support to build and expand clinical and payer relationships
Guidance on design and implementation that is tailored to their unique needs, resources, and challenges
- Access to the Community As Medicine trauma-informed health coaching curriculum
- Training in facilitation of the “Community As Medicine” model
- Ongoing skill development for your health coaches.
Qualifications and Selection Criteria:
Readiness: Your team is ready and able to participate in training, secure a clinical partner and pilot a CAM group in 2025-2026.
Commitment to Clinical Partnerships: You have existing clinical partners and/or are committed to building clinical partner relationships in 2025. You are eager to approach your clinical partners with information about your CAM offering, invite them to a stakeholder event to let them experience the CAM model and secure a clinical partner/s for a CAM pilot.
Leadership Support: Your YMCA and/or CBO leadership is aware of and excited about your participation in this learning collaborative. CAM aligns with your organizational goals and you have leadership support to pilot the CAM model.
Staffing: You either have trained health and wellness coaches on your team, or are prepared to train or hire them. Selected organizations will be responsible for staff time spent on training and any formal training costs in excess of the $5,000 credit provided by Open Source Wellness.
