The community college, through grant funding from Assemblyman Mike Gipson’s office, will assist students in reaching training and educational career aspirations
Implementing the vision of Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson (CA-65), the Compton Community Health Professions Partnership, established in September 2023, now includes grant funding designed to help students access the education, training and support needed to pursue careers in health care professions.
In May 2024, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) awarded Compton College a $450,000 grant to create a pipeline of community partners that leads to careers in health care by strengthening existing educational programs, addressing the disparities in health care access, and improving educational attainment for greater Compton area residents.
The grant is made possible through the Los Angeles Regional K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program. The collaborative aims to improve enrollment, persistence and degree completion of underrepresented students in fields that lead to increased economic mobility, starting with streamlined pathways to health care, engineering and computer science careers, by enhancing dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and work-based learning.
Compton College joins Compton Unified School District (CUSD), CSU Dominguez Hills, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), St. John’s Community Health, and Kedren Health in the partnership.
Though each partner has been working independently to recruit, enroll, and train students in the Compton community for health care professions, their efforts have been largely contained within their organization. The Compton Community Health Professions Partnership brings all groups together to collaborate and find solutions that work for all.
“Through this important partnership, we can specifically address the health care needs of people of color – particularly those in low-income communities – who need to be able to move beyond crisis-oriented health care so they can be more proactive and in better control of their health,” said Assemblyman Mike Gipson (CA-65).
“The Compton Unified School District is dedicated to collaborating with our partners at the Compton Community Health Professionals Partnership to tackle the pressing need for more health care workers, such as nurses and doctors, originating from our community,” stated CUSD Superintendent Darin Brawley.
“Educational pathways for careers in health start right here with our middle and high school students. We are eager to provide them with the necessary awareness and training to cultivate a new generation of health care professionals, thereby stimulating job creation within the health care sector in and around Compton,” Brawley added.
“Health care should be a right for everybody, not just for the privileged few,” said President of California State University, Dominguez Hills Thomas Parham. “Yet, that right remains unrealized if people do not have access to health care, community facilities have insufficient staffing, or patients receive treatment from health professionals who are not culturally competent. This partnership addresses each of those critical needs for our communities.
“California State University, Dominguez Hills is committed to transforming the lives and the communities that we serve, and I am excited that this collaboration will align our students’ interests with career possibilities, change their career trajectories, and prepare our students for jobs that will contribute to improved access to quality health care.”
The partnership comes at a time of great need; Compton is experiencing a shortage of health professionals from the community, including nurses and physicians. It is estimated that there are over 1,000 open positions for health care providers. The nursing shortage is especially acute.
“This partnership is going to make a difference in our community. This is where the future of health and health care is going to start for the communities of South Los Angeles, Compton, and all the communities around them,” said Dr. David M. Carlisle, CDU President and CEO. “There is no other collaboration like this in the entire country. This is a lesson that every other state can take advantage of and learn from.”
Funding from the Los Angeles K-16 Regional Collaborative will support a program manager who will report to the Compton Community Health Professions Partnership (CCHPP) Steering Committee and be housed at the Compton Unified School District office.
St. John’s Community Health (SJCH) will hire and supervise a new employee to fill the position of the CCHPP program manager/specialist. The budget for this position is $100,000 per year, including health benefits for three fiscal years, through June 30, 2027.
The application for the program manager position is available on the St. John’s Community Health Career Center portal located online.
SJCH currently operates the Compton College Student Health Center, which provides instant access to medical services such as physical exams; treatment for colds, flu, and minor sprains; family planning; vaccines; and counseling. Dedicated to treating the whole student, workshops and resources support students’ physical and mental well-being.
The goals of the Compton Community Health Professions Partnership mirror Compton College’s mission and commitment to improving self-sufficiency and living wages in its surrounding communities while offering the latest education and training in health care to establish economic mobility within the community.
Other objectives of the partnership include increasing student interest in health care professions; inspiring young people to return to their community through engagement; and establishing a sustainable partnership model that can be replicated in communities across the country.
Source: Compton College
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