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SOUTH DAKTOA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 10, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 10, 2010
CONTACT: Karen Cudmore, (605) 773-3361
Healthcare workforce grants awarded
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Healthcare Workforce Partnership Fund has awarded its third year of grants. Six educational agencies and five health facilities will share $93,333 in grant funds to support workforce projects ranging from the development of a training program for certified nurse assistants to the creation of camps that allow high school students to explore health careers.
“South Dakota’s population is aging, baby boomers in healthcare are retiring and there are fewer high school graduates to replace them which means we’re facing critical needs for workers across the healthcare industry,” said Halley Lee, Manager of the South Dakota Healthcare Workforce Center for the Department of Health. “Facilities across the state are working hard to recruit and retain healthcare workers and to promote health careers to our students still in school. The partnership fund was created to provide some support for those efforts.”
The South Dakota Healthcare Workforce Partnership Fund was established in conjunction with the South Dakota Community Foundation to support innovative healthcare workforce projects in the state. Substantial financial support was provided by Avera Health, Regional Health and Sanford Health. Recipients of this year’s grants include:
· Aberdeen, North Eastern Work and Technical Education Center, $10,000 – Develop a certified nurse assistant (CNA) consortium training program to provide classroom and clinical education experience for training and certifying CNAs to the standards of the South Dakota Board of Nursing and health care industry.
· Brookings, SDSU College of Pharmacy, $1,650 – Host a two-day camp for eighth grade, American Indian students in the Rapid City area.
· Chamberlain, Sanford Mid-Dakota, $10,000 – Identify potential RN nursing program students; assist students with daycare, transportation, mentoring, tutoring and coaching.
· Faulkton, Faulkton Area Medical Center, $10,000 – Upgrade the current student shadowing experience to allow for a 90-hour experience for area students.
· Mobridge, Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics, $9,966 – Promote and encourage healthcare professions through free EMT Basic courses.
· Rapid City, Partnership Rapid City, $4,430 – Establish a partnership with school districts, higher education institutions, and healthcare facilities to allow students to experience 'on campus' instruction in a variety of medical careers.
· Rapid City, Regional Health, $10,000 – implement the Jackrabbits Nurse Camp, a series of day camps to help adolescents explore nursing careers.
· Sioux Falls, East Dakota Educational Cooperative, $7,356 – Provide career preparation for students with disabilities.
· Vermillion, Sanford Vermillion Medical Center, $10,000 – Host a healthcare career summer camp for up to 50 participants.
· Vermillion, University of South Dakota, $9,930 – Use resident physicians and medical students to lead 8th grade students in a class exploring careers in different health care disciplines during 2010-2011 academic year.
· Vermillion, Vermillion School District, $10,000 – Develop a program of study for students interested in health science careers with dual credit, shadowing and internship opportunities.
For more information on the Healthcare Workforce Partnership Fund and its projects, contact the South Dakota Healthcare Workforce Center at 605-773-3361.
Sustaining a competent workforce is one part of department’s Health 2010 Initiative goal to strengthen the health care delivery system in South Dakota.
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