Oregon Health Career Center

Programs: Health careers opportunity program (hcop)-during fy 2009-2010, hcop served 214 students who are either from low-income families and/or will be the first in their family to go to college through their participation in the following programs: (1) an after-school college preparation and health careers exploration program for 9th through 12th grade students, (2) a six week commuter summer academy for high school juniors, (3) a six week residential summer academy for recently-graduated high school seniors, and (4) a college retention program on local campuses for our high school and summer academy program students.

k-12 programs-1) in fy 2009-2010, the a. K. A. Science program served 1,295 kindergarten through fifth grade students in hands-on after-school science classes. Results from our annual evaluation show that 82% of students improved their attitudes toward school and 87% improved their attitudes toward science, after their participation in an eight week a. K. A. Science session. Further, our a. K. A. Science class leaders report that students are more excited about going to school as a result of the program because confidence in their academic abilities grows throughout the program. The class leaders also report that students become much more comfortable with and confident in science as they begin to see themselves as scientists. 2) in fy 2009-2010, health career day (a one-day conference style event for high school students who are interested in pursuing careers in health) served over 1,500 youth. Volunteer presenters representing nearly 60 health professions shared the academic requirements and job skills needed for a variety of health careers. 3) in fy 2009-2010, the kaiser permanente health care careers scholarship program awarded a $2,000 scholarship to one student at each of 113 high schools in oregon and southwest washington. Preference for the scholarship goes to students who meet one of these qualifications: (1) first in their family to go to college, (2) speaks another language in addition to english, (3) is from an ethnic or racial group currently under-represented in a health profession, or (4) is from a low-income family.

n2k nursing education program-in fy 2009-2010, 32 students graduated from this program (which educates and provides student support services to healthcare employees sponsored by their employers) and are now working for their employers as registered nurses.

initiatives- americorps program: oregon health service corps during fy 2009-2010, ohcc entered into a planning grant through the oregon volunteers! To develop the oregon health service corps (ohsc). Ohsc will be a statewide americorps program that provides oregon's safety-net clinics and rural hospitals with the opportunity to sponsor an americorps member. In fy 2010-2011, ohcc will deploy up to 20 americorps members at safety-net clinics and rural hospitals to address significant issues in the areas of health and human needs. Ohsc americorps members will serve 1,700 hours over an 11 ¬month period to increase access to primary and preventive health services and programs in underserved communities; to improve utilization of health and social services; and to provide community outreach and volunteer generation. Allied health careers ladder program during fy 2009-2010, ohcc was awarded a grant from the state of oregon's community college workforce development office to develop and model a virtual, on-line campus to support and prepare incumbent workers from oregon's safety-net clinics and hospitals with the advising, remedial work, and core prerequisite courses required to qualify them for entry into a range of allied health training programs. Advising methodology, curriculum and course work will be developed and pilot-tested with community health centers, rural hospitals and safety-net clinics. An initial cohort of incumbent workers will be identified, assessed, receive a detailed career ladder success plan, as well as initial remedial courses and enrollment in appropriate prerequisite coursework. An ultimate deliverable will include ready-to-use modules for the virtual campus including advising, various remedial courses and activities, and prerequisites. A "lessons learned" section will be included, as well as a strategic plan identifying how the program can be financially sustained directly by participating employers.