ConneX

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ConneX
Northwest Community Action Center

• Connecting Students With Health Careers
• 
  

Presented By Lisa Campbell-John Maria C.
Benavides
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Funding for ConneX

• Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) grant
  from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
• Washington Health Foundation
• Washington State University - ALCANCE
  

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Program Purpose Goal

• ConneX will help increase the number of diverse
  health professionals practicing in underserved
  areas.
• The goal is for students to successfully complete
  their education and return to work in their
  under-served communities.

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Formal Partnerships

• HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
• Central Washington University
  -Pre-health Professional Programs
• - Education Opportunity Center
• Washington State University
• -Area Health Education Center
  -School of Pharmacy
  -School of Nursing
• University Of Washington
• -Office of Minority Affairs
• - School of Dentistry
  -School of Public Health
  
• Yakima Valley Community College

• School Districts
• Toppenish
• Zillah
• Granger
• Sunnyside
• Grandview
• Mabton
• Mt. Adams
• Wapato
• Yakima

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Application Process

• Students Middle School
• High School
• Undergraduate
• Health Professional
• Application
• - Career Interest Statement
• - Essay
• - 2 Letters of Recommendation
• Criteria to Qualify
• Minority or disadvantaged
• Selection Committee

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Targeted Health Professions

• Pharmacy
• Dental/Dental Hygiene
• Medical Technologist
• Clinical Social Worker
• Behavioral Mental Health Therapist
• Dietician
• Nursing (ALCANCE)

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Participant Opportunities

• Saturday Academy
• Health Career Fairs
• 6 Week Summer Program
• Academics Math, Science,
• Reading Writing
• Primary Care Exposure at YVFWC sites
• 2 Week Math/Science Institute
• at Yakima Valley Community College

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Participant Opportunities (Cont.)

• Service Learning Projects
• - Community Blood Drive
• - Public Service Announcements
• Mercury in our environment
• Mentoring Programs
• Health-Profession Specific University Visits
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Information
• Community-Based Research Opportunities
• (College Students)

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Accomplishments

• 64 High School Applications Received/42 Accepted
• Developed Summer Vocation Program
• Coordinated Selection Committees with
• 10 High Schools
• Began Saturday Academies on May 4th
• Coordinated with YVCC to create a
• 2-week summer Math Science Institute
• Working with School of Public Health to create
  community-based research training workshop for
  college students
• Increased Number of Partnerships

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Northwest Community Action Center an affiliate of
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
Thank You For Your Attention,