ERIC ED463442: Kids into Health Careers Kit.

91 Pages·2001·1.9 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 463 442 CE 083 123
Hollins, Anthony, Jr., Comp.; Davis, Maurice, Comp.; Horne,
AUTHOR
Devonaline T., Comp.
Kids into Health Careers Kit.
TITLE
Health Resources and Services Administration (DHHS/PHS),
INSTITUTION
Rockville, MD. Bureau of Health Professions.
2001-00-00
PUB DATE
93p.; Kids into Health Careers (KIHC) Initiative packet for
NOTE
Bureau grantees. CD-ROM not available from ERIC.
For Web-based version:
AVAILABLE FROM
http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/kidscareers/.
Guides Non-Classroom (055)
PUB TYPE
MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Affirmative Action; Allied Health Occupations Education;
DESCRIPTORS
Career Choice; Career Education; *Career Exploration;
*Economically Disadvantaged; Educational Finance;
*Educationally Disadvantaged; Elementary Secondary
Education; Health Needs; *Health Occupations; Medical
Education; *Minority Groups; *Occupational Information;
Student Financial Aid; Student Recruitment; Vocational
Education
ABSTRACT
This complete Kids into Health Careers (KIHC) information
package contains guidance materials to use when working with local school
systems. It provides operating instructions on how to choose and address an
audience, either at a school or community-based organization.
(KIHC is an
initiative being developed to supplement the pool of qualified applicants
from economically and educationally disadvantaged and underrepresented
minority populations for entry into health professions training.) The packet
include; an overview booklet; a poster with information on the back about
what KIHC is, why it is so important, who KIHC is trying to reach, examples
of career opportunities in the health professions, and reference guides; an
operating instructions booklet covering qualifying, financial aid, fulfilling
a need, selection criteria, addressing target audiences, and reporting
elements; and a booklet with presentation models for students K-5, students
6-12, parents, and teachers, counselors, and school administrators. Appended
are a list of 17 references detailing career opportunities in the health
field; additional information on specific health careers and certificate
positions; a list of 30 sources of financial aid; and a list of
federally-funded health facility contacts for additional information.
(YLB)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
Kids into Health Careers Kit
Anthony Hollins, Jr., Maurice Davis, and Devonaline T. Horne, Compilers
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office ot Educational Research and
Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
This docum ent has been reproduced
as
Cf/(
received from the person or
organization
originating it.
0 Minor changes have been
made to
improve reproduction quality.
Points of view or opinions stated
in this
document do not necessarily
represent
official OERI position or policy.
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
f
Instructions
Operating
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4
Qualifying for them is an achievable and
rewarding goal,
Financial aid is available, and
This work fills a critical need in many medical-
ly underservecl communities, where primarily
minority and disadvantaged people are not
getting the health care they need.
"The Bureau of Health Professions is develop-
Jth Opportionigies
ing strategies to achieve a diverse, culturally
Right now nearly 3,000 mostly minority or rural
competent health professions workforce. In
communities throughout the United States do not
FY 1999, all applicants are encouraged to
have enough health care providers to meet basic
work with school systems, through the high
medical, dental and mental health needs.
If that is
school level, where there is a high percentage
startling, consider these projections for the future:
of minority and disadvantaged students.
The objectives of developing this working
Only 2,755 physicians are trained in public
relationship are to: (1) encourage and inform
health and the number of public health resi-
minority and disadvantaged teenage students
dents is declining while an estimated 5,000
of educational and career opportunities in
dentists are needed to meet public health
health professions and (2) assist minority and
needs.
disadvantaged students in planning and
A recent Bureau of Health Professions study
preparing for post secondary education in the
revealed that California will require 43,000
health care professions."
new nurses by 2010 and 74,000 by 2020.
Support personnel, including epidemiologists,
From this directive, in the 1998 Health Resources
biostatisticians, environmental health profes-
and Services Administration (HRSA) Preview, the
sionals, toxicologists, public
Kids into Health Careers Initiative was born.
health nurses, public health
Operating through HRSA's Bureau of Health
nutritionists, preventive
Professions (BHPr), it calls on all Bureau grantees
\r;7.
medicine specialists, and
to choose a local school or community based
behavioral and mental
organization, meet with school officials, students
health professionals are
and parents about Kids into Health Careers and
also in short supply.
report the results.
What these numbers
As a grantee, you will find everything you need in
add up to is a great
this package, including visual aids, talking points
need for health care
and reporting requirements. All you have to do is
professionals and
fill in your own experience and information about
also a great oppor-
your local workplace. The HRSA supported BHPr
tunity for young
initiative Kids into Health Careers has a four fold
people who may
message:
not know it exists.
In addition, there is
There are job opportunities in the health care
something for every one in
field,
5
can boast of African American, Hispanic, or
the health care field.
Physicians, dentists
American Indian enrollments that come close to
and nurses are only three of over 250
matching their percentages in the total population,
different health care professions avail-
much less the projected increase. In fact, enroll-
able. From athletic trainer to nurse
ments are dropping. With the 1996 elimination of
midwife to pharmacy technician, health
affirmative action in public post-secondary and
care careers run the gamut of interests,
graduate schools in California, Louisiana,
abilities and educational levels.
Mississippi and Texas, the number of underrepre-
aua0O6yOng
sented minorities applying to medical schools in
those states fell precipitously, according to data
Olympic athletes begin training in childhood,
because by the time an athlete reaches the age of
from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Over the past two years, the number of minorities
18, it is too late to develop the strength, skills and
mind set necessary to compete. This is true in
applying to medical schools dropped 19% in
California, and 22% in Texas, Louisiana and
other areas of endeavor as well, including the
health care professions. While job opportunities in
Mississippi, while minority applicants nationally
dropped by 12% in the same period.
health care are many and growing, a student, who
has not taken the appropriate courses during high
These enrollments matter because minority health
school, cannot go on to further study or training in
care professionals provide more care for the poor
the field. Thus, the earlier a child and his/her fam-
and uninsured and for patients in their own
ily thinks of a health care career, the more likely
racial/ethnic groups than non minority providers.
the child will have the qualifications to go on to
Thus, minority representation within the health
further training and a belief that the goal is attain-
professions directly relates to access to health care
able. Encouraging both the desire to be a health
services in underserved communities.
It also
professional and confidence to get there, is the aim
relates to quality of health
of the HRSA supported BHPR Initiative, Kids into
care. According to the
Health Careers.
Association of
IninanciaD Aid
American Medical
A
Colleges, the quali-
Financing an education is no longer the insur-
ty of care given to
mountable obstacle it once was. Today, there are
underserved
many ways to go about it, including scholarships,
minorities is "inferi-
loans and grants, available from federal, state and
or" to that available
local governments, as well as private sector organi-
to the general pop-
zations. This information is included in the packet.
ulation. Annual
FaMODOng a Heed
death rates for minorities
in general are about 50%
Only 10% of the health care workforce is com-
higher than for non-minori-
prised of minorities. The U.S. population, on the
ties, lowering life expectancy
other hand, is 25% minority and expected to grow
to 30% by 2010. None of the health professions
tg
2
r,
0
4:3
11.
by about five years for minority women and eight
Deeion Crigerica
years for minority men.
The appropriate schools and/or community based
entities for Kids into Health Careers presentations
Declining minority enrollments in health care train-
must have populations with a high percentage
ing and the consequent health threat to the
(refer to national rankings) of economically disad-
nation's disadvantaged and minorities prompted
vantaged, educationally disadvantaged or underrep-
HRSA and BHPr, not only to establish the Kids into
resented minority students. These terms are defined
Health Careers Initiative as a way of exposing
as follows:
underrepresented minority youth to health career
opportunities, but also to call upon grantees as
must be a citizen of the
Student eligibility
Kids into Health Careers ambassadors.
United States or its territories and a permanent
resident.
ir©
no De
Often the only experience young people have with
Economically disadvantaged
limited financial
health professionals is a negative one, the result of
means based on low income. Local standards
If the health care workforce is to
being sick.
for low income should apply.
grow, young people must have greater and more
positive exposure to health professionals. That is
an educational
Educationally disadvantaged
where you come in.
By visiting your chosen
background that has identifiable weaknesses at
school or community based organization and shar-
any level and inadequate preparation in pre-
ing health career opportunities with the young
requisite math and science courses.
people there, you will be letting them into a world
of opportunity, expanding their personal horizons
from racial and eth-
Underrepresented minority
and exposing them in a positive way to a health
nic populations that are underrepresented in
care professional...you. As a health care profes-
the health professions relative to their percent-
sional role model, you make an important differ-
age of the general population.
ence in a child's life and at the same time con-
tribute to the future of U.S. health care.
Once a selection(s) has been made, you will
be expected to contact school/entity
administrators to set up
meetings with officials,
guidance counselors and
teachers, with students in
grades 6-12 or K-5 and
with parents.
addressing Torgeg
audiences
A separate sample presentation has
been prepared for each of the Kids
into Health Careers targeted groups, but each has
Sample Presentation to Parents
to impress on educators, students
the same aim
This presentation is veiy similar to the student 6-12
presentation, providing parents with an understand-
in grades 6-12 and K-5, and their families that
.
health care jobs are available and attainable.
ing of the opportunity in health care, what it takes
to qualify and how to finance a health care educa-
.
Each presentation includes talking points and visu-
In the event of a mixed parent/student audi-
tion.
ence, the student presentation could be used with-
al aids.
.
out omitting any information.
Sample Presentation to Teachers, Counselors and/or
PreogenkAgn LapitartigUO
School Administrators
The thrust of this presentation is to inform school
Included in this packet you will find examples of
personnel that the health care field provides enor-
health professions, which can be made into trans-
mous opportunity for their students, that:
parencies to be used with each of the presentations,
.
A whole range of health care careers exist,
a CD-ROM detailing health careers that can be left
Opportunities in the field are only going to grow
with the school and four collections of reference
o
in the future, and
material (Appendices A-D). These can be added to
Qualifying for health care jobs doesn't necessarily
with local information and may be copied for use
o
require a post graduate degree but can be as easy
as handouts.
as an apprenticeship or training program.
In addition, this presentation provides information
Appendix A, Health Professions Reference Material:
about health care education programs and about
This is a list of references detailing career opportu-
financing for them so that busy teachers and guid-
nities in the health field.
ance counselors can easily make it accessible to
their students.
Appendix B, Examples of Health Professions:
Additional information on specific health careers
and certificate positions are described in the presen-
Sample Presentation to 6-12 and K- 5 Students
.
Students pay closer attention and learn more when
tations to school personnel, students and parents is
they are engaged. For that reason, both of the sw-
included here.
dent presentations provide opportunities for give
and take. The presentation to older swdents
Appendix C', Financial Aid information: Places that
includes information about various health profes- offer financial assistance and ways to get in touch
sion jobs, what is required to qualify for them and
with them are listed in this section.
Local financial
methods of paying for a health care education.
aid programs could be added.
The presentation to K-5 students is more modest,
aiming to spark the imaginations of the student
Appendix D, Federally Funded Health Facilities:
audience with the possibilities of a future in health
These facilities may be sources for additional infor-
mation, or, if there is one near you, could be an
care.
opportunity for a tour or field trip.
This list could
also be passed on to interested teachers or guid-
ance counselors.
Repooling Egemeavas
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this initia-
tive and to monitor its progress, you will be asked
to submit periodic reports. By filling out the report
form on the following page, you will help keep
track of:
A. Number of visits (six (6) suggested per
fiscal year)
B. Number of contacts
numbers of students, par-
ents and/or teachers, counselors and school
administrators seen. At least two (2) of the
three (3) target groups (students, parents, and
guidance counselors) must be seen and one (1)
target group must be students.
Your reports will be used to create a database.
5
Contacts with Organizations that Serve a High Proportion
t
OifWkLinority ®r Iiimivantaged Student- (K-12)
# Teachers Counselors and /or
# Parents
# Students
# of Visits
Administtiatoris