An initiative of The N.C. Center for Health & Wellness at UNC Asheville | Statement of Compassion & Inclusion

How to Become A Program Provider

What is a “Lay Program Provider”?

Many of the evidence based programs offered across North Carolina use a lay program provider programming model.  This means that the program providers don’t have to be physicians, nurses, or physical therapists, they just need to be interested in helping people take control of their health.  The lay program provider training provides an individual with everything they’ll need to lead a program through a given program. Individuals interested in becoming certified as a lay program provider will lead in an evidence based program such as A Matter of Balance or one of the Chronic Disease Self Management Programs.

Who can become a Lay Program Provider?

Participants should be willing to lead programs in their community at regular intervals, with support from a Master Trainer and other healthy aging program providers.

What are the components?

Lay program provider training varies by program.  Training sessions include in-depth discussions of the program content, activities, and quality assurance. You don’t need any previous teaching or healthcare experience but you must plan to attend the entire training in order to be certified.

There are two ways to get trained as a Walk With Ease program provider:

1. Go through the Arthritis Foundation and pay the $89 . . . OR . . .

2. The North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness can assist you with some of the program provider training expense with funds from our CDC grant. For more information, please contact Ellen Garrison.

Lay Program Provider Trainings