07/28/10 – Inspiring High School Students to Careers in Health
by Freddie JaquezExecutive Director, San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center
To help address Colorado's shortage of health professionals, a summer program of Colorado's Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) is spreading awareness of health careers among high school students.
Research shows that opportunities to connect with students who show strong competencies in math and science and an interest in health careers are lost along the way from high school through college. The AHECs' "Grow Your Own" Summer Health Careers Institute and Student Health Careers Guild is one means to inspire high school students to seek the education and mentoring needed to enter a health profession. First established in 1979 in the San Luis Valley, "Grow Your Own" is an evidence-based program that – each June through the regular school year – identifies, selects, enrolls, educates and tracks high school students in pursuit of health careers.
But does the program work? In a 25-year (1982-2007) survey of the program, it was found that 44% of high school students who participated in the Summer Health Careers Institute administered by Colorado AHECs statewide are currently employed in a health occupation.
So, yes, the program works. To date, hundreds of high school students have participated in the program and many have made a profound impact in Colorado communities – particularly in rural areas.
Aligned with the policy recommendations of the Colorado Health Professions Workforce Collaborative to reverse the shortage of health professionals statewide, "Grow Your Own" will continue to connect with young people just as they are beginning to consider their career options. For more information, contact Freddie L. Jaquez.
Learn more about how the Colorado Health Professions Collaborative is bringing together policy leaders, health care providers, educational institutions, and economic development and workforce planners to strengthen Colorado's health care system.
