NEW PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE HAVERMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE CAREERS

SPOKANE, WA, May 1, 2008 – The Spokane Area Workforce Development Council recently was awarded funding to provide pathways to health care careers for alternative students attending Havermale High School.

The program, called the Allied Health Career Academy, is designed to engage students through active participation in the 18-month program, during which they will earn college credits, certified nursing assistant credentials, and paid work experiences.

“This innovative project will help to connect youth to careers in the vital field of health care,” said Mark Mattke, Workforce Strategy and Planning Director of the Spokane Area Workforce Development Council.  “Youth who learn about and get interested in rewarding careers while still in high school do better in their studies and stand a better chance of graduating and succeeding in post secondary education and the workplace. We thank Governor Gregoire for her generous support to launch this initiative and our community partners at Spokane Public Schools, Spokane Community College, the Next Generation Zone, and St. Luke’s hospital for collaborating to create these opportunities for our youth to succeed.”

According to Terri McKenzie, Vice President of Student and Instructional Services for Spokane Community College, “Spokane Community College has been working with Havermale High School for the past several years to encourage students to consider post-high school professional technical and transfer education.  When we began, many of the students had never considered college.  Now, because of the work of the faculty and staff at Havermale and SCC, students are discovering a future they had never imagined. The Youth Health Career Academy will take this to the next level—providing support on both the high school and college campuses for students who dream of becoming a health care professional.”