It takes a strong partnership to provide students an experience with impact. Groups must set a shared vision, collaborate on strategies, and plan for future needs.
When it comes together, the benefit is multiplied.
A recent partnership with Columbus Community Hospital (CCH) and Columbus Public Schools (CPS) aims to provide career opportunities for Columbus High School students and fill an employment need at CCH.
The creation of a healthcare pathway at CHS gives students a chance to experience first-hand what skills and knowledge they’ll need to pursue a career in that industry.
“That’s the power of our pathways” CPS Superintendent Dr. Troy Loefellholz said.
WATCH NOW
Pathways are a set of courses that prepare students for future careers, especially those found in the Columbus-area.
“For our students to work in our community, we have to have that active engagement. The partnership with CCH will benefit our students immensely,
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s exciting for our kids to be involved in an industry. It’s exciting for a school district to provide the students what they want to learn and consider as an occupation in the future.”
Collaborations with stakeholders is critical in maintaining high-quality healthcare in Columbus, Columbus Community Hospital President and CEO Mike Hansen said, calling them “extremely important.”
“As a local, community hospital, it’s important for us to engage our community and try and keep our kids in town. Workforce is probably going to be the biggest issue for the next three to five years.
“To be able to continue to partner with other organizations and agencies is critical in developing the future of our workforce,” Hansen said.
The need in healthcare workers coincided with a desire to help. A recent survey conducted with CHS students revealed that more than 30 percent of respondents had an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare.
“We had large numbers that wanted to be in the healthcare field. At that point it behooves us to take a look at what that means for us,” CHS principal Dave Hiebner said.
The pathway, Hiebner said, “is a fantastic opportunity” that will provide an unique experience for CHS students.
“It’s going to look different than it does at other buildings because it’s going to be suited specifically to what the Columbus community needs as well as Columbus High School.”
Students will begin the class learning CPR and by the end of the first year be a certified nursing assistant (CNA). With that license, students are able to get employment in healthcare.
“There’s a huge need in the community. This is a great way for those kids to fill that need and get the experience that when they go to apply to a college they already have I worked at Columbus Community Hospital. Across the board it really helps,” instructor Wendy Kalloff (RN, BSN) said.
Beyond licensing and employment, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences necessary for their future.
“It’s one thing to learn things from a book, it’s another thing to have hands-on learning experiences and actually see what you’re going to be getting into,” Hansen said.
“I didn’t quite have the base of information or the skills these kids will get in this pathway. I had to kind of muddle my way through the path to where I am today,” he continued. “I would have really loved to have a program like this, when I was in high school.”
To learn more about the program, contact Nicole Anderson at andersonn@discoverers.org or 402-564-7000 ext. 12847.