DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire's Thompson School of Applied Science (TSAS) and Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) have launched a new certificate program in community care coordination. The flexible 19-credit program is currently enrolling traditional and non-traditional students to begin this fall.

The program aims to fill a need expressed by medical and social service professionals to bridge services provided by hospitals and those available in the community. Positions in this field are among the fastest-growing occupations in the health care field, with a projected growth in New Hampshire of more than 50 percent by 2020.

"For many people, the hospital's coordination job ends once the patient is discharged," says Laura Davie, co-director of CACL at UNH. "Coordinating services across the medical and social service system requires a unique skill set. This program seeks to train individuals to fill that need."

The certificate program includes courses in a variety of topic areas, including health benefits, transportation needs, set up of in-home care, coordination of informal supports, assistance with activities of daily living, and hospital-home transitions.

Davie notes that the certificate is appropriate for students from a range of backgrounds. "Students just starting on a new career and students already working in the health field who seek to augment their skills can benefit from this program," she says. The certificate has a flexible course schedule, with some online and evening options. Additionally, the course schedule can be tailored based on previous experience.

For more information and to apply, visit http://thompsonschool.unh.edu/cert/communitycarecoordination or contact Cynthia Giguere at 603-862-1009 or cynthia.giguere@unh.edu.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.