Publish Date: Dec 1, 2015
SALINAS, Calif. – On December 3, 2015, Hartnell Community College District and the Salinas Valley Health Professions Pathway Partnership (SVHPPP) will announce a new $1.5 million grant from The California Endowment, bringing their total support for this pathway to $3 million over the last 5 years. A press conference is scheduled for:
Thursday, December 3, 2015
11:00 a.m.
Hartnell College
(In Plaza area in front of the Library)
411 Central Avenue
Salinas, CA 93901
Join us as we welcome senior leadership from The California Endowment, Respiratory Care Program students, Registered Nurse students, Health care industry leadership and numerous community leaders, plus education partners from UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, CSUMB and local feeder schools. Pathway stakeholders from the community will speak about the value of this pathway to the health care industry, local community, and economic engine. The press conference will be led by Hartnell College Governing Board President, Erica Padilla-Chávez. Speakers will include:
- Dr. Willard Lewallen, Superintendent/President, Hartnell College
- Dr. Tony Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Sr. Vice-President, Building Healthy Communities, The California Endowment
- Pete Delgado, CEO, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System
- Health Professions Student
- Medical Professions Student
- John Pineda, Hartnell College, Health Career Connects alum and Health Equity Advisor, MILPA
Following the press conference, the SVHPPP will gather for a luncheon and a Strategic Planning Working Session to begin a strategic planning process which will result in a 5 year strategic plan that will be a road map to create a strong and competent healthcare workforce to prepared the local community.
“Growing and sustaining health career pathways are a key strategy for healthy and vibrant communities and the Salinas Valley Health Professions Pathways Partnership exemplifies the kind of collective leadership needed to achieve health equity in the Salinas Valley,” said Tony Iton, MD, JD, MPH, Sr. Vice-President, Building Healthy Communities, The California Endowment.
The SVHPPP is a collaborative of key stakeholders representing K-12, higher education, alternative education/juvenile probation, healthcare employers, Workforce Development Board, academic supports, Boys & Men of Color advocates and social emotional capacity building partners committed to increasing and sustaining the number of ‘locally grown’ and ‘locally prepared’ health workforce to supply regional demand and to contribute to a stronger economic engine. Hartnell College and the SVHPPP are part of a broader strategy known as Building Healthy Communities, a 10-year place based community change initiative taking place in 14 California communities across the state and funded by The California Endowment.
Five years in, this Pathway program is already showing great results. The new Respiratory Care Practitioner program established in 2013 at Hartnell College is a concrete example of the economic impact this investment is making for youth in Salinas. The first graduating cohort of Respiratory Care Practitioner students had a 100% certification test pass rate and a 100% job placement.
These are the types of opportunities, living wage, good quality of life supporting jobs that The California Endowment, Hartnell College, and partners sought to uplift through rigorous academics, youth development opportunities and social emotional support systems designed from kindergarten through career.
Elements of this pathway partnership distinguish themselves because it is a comprehensive approach that begins in the elementary grades and follows the student through the ultimate outcome: a great job. The philosophy of the pathway is also unique in that it embraces rigorous academics, industry exposure through internships paired with culturally rooted, healing informed approaches which blend the strength of technical skills and interpersonal skills that are needed to be successful in today’s workplace.
With industry partnerships and support, Hartnell College is producing future generations of bright young healthcare providers and strengthening the diversity in this industry. Through our innovative programs and initiatives, we are creating a new legacy of opportunity for the families of the Salinas Valley and beyond.
For more information on the SVHPPP, please contact Jackie Cruz at (831) 444-2446 or by email jcruz@hartnell.edu.
Hartnell Community College District
The Hartnell CCD serves over 16,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.
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