The K–12 Health Science Partnership (HSP) is a part of HealthForce that works to promote healthcare career awareness among students and to show K–16 educators ways to promote healthcare career awareness in their own classrooms.

#1 Goal: By June 30, 2009, HealthForce Minnesota K–12 Health Science Partnership will encourage area school districts to develop and offer health science education.

Strategies

1. Communicate with school decisionmakers (Administrators/ School boards):

• Districts without health science education put their students at a disadvantage with post-secondary and employment.
• Available resources
• Develop a presentation for school board

2. Promote and expand Staff Development Day. Outreach & learning opportunities:

• MN Health Care Core Curriculum—survey
• HOSA
• Association: Health Science CTE
• HEIP web/available industry opportunities
• K-12 & Beyond

3. Develop state model curriculum aligned with state and federal standards

#2 Goal: By June 30, 2009, K–12 Health Science Partnership will create awareness of healthcare career opportunities among K–16 students in Southeastern Minnesota.

Strategies

1. Launch camp—Health Career Day—and expand annually

2. Develop more staff and build capacity for awareness activities

3. Look for marketing opportunities that are age-appropriate

4. Develop career awareness activities in the community e.g. Job shadowing, Boys/ Girls Club

5. Create a program (hands on) to bring into the middle and high schools - AHEC Southern MN model

#3 Goal: By June 30, 2009, through innovative partnerships, HealthForce Minnesota K-12 HSP will promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and address STEM teacher shortage issues.

Strategies

1. Analyze DOE data RE: teacher licensure in STEM

2. Articulate high need STEM areas to agencies, business and (other partners) to address issues and seek workable solutions