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Strafford County funds summer program to introduce students to health-care jobs
Summary
County staff described a Go North–funded summer exploration program that received $15,000 to give roughly 8 students about 80 hours of hands-on and administrative health-care training, a stipend and a certificate — part of a strategy to address local long-term-care staffing shortages.
Strafford County commissioners on July 9 heard details of a summer "Future Health Care Professionals" exploration program funded by a $15,000 Go North grant intended to introduce local students to careers in long-term care.
The presenter said the course is a 16-hour-per-week format that adds up to about 80 hours of instruction and hands-on practice. "They really loved it," the presenter said of the students, adding that participants receive a stipend and a certificate at completion and that UNH will be filming portions of the program with parental waivers being collected.
The Chair described the program as part of a broader strategy to bolster staffing. "We were gonna try to train ourselves out of COVID with some new folks," the Chair said, explaining the county’s goal to use training and recruitment to ease staff shortages at county nursing facilities.
Organizers said they recruited students by contacting local school guidance offices and that 11 people initially expressed interest; eight ultimately enrolled and remained in the program. Sessions cover clinical skills, administrative tasks, resident rights, HIPAA and sensitivity training. A staff member noted the program features department heads volunteering time to teach modules, and that it includes both clinical exposure (PT/OT, infection control) and administrative training.
Commissioners discussed brief remarks to students and the possibility of meeting them when they receive certificates. Staff said the program may expand in the fall and that organizers plan to apply for additional funding in subsequent years.
Next steps: staff will continue recruitment and collect media waivers for UNH; the board suggested commissioners might attend a certificate presentation later in the summer.
