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Wayne State College Of Nursing Gets $3.4M State Grant To Push Health Careers

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University College of Nursing has received a grant of nearly $3.4 million from the 21st Century Community Learning Center, funded by the Michigan Department of Education.

The grant funds an after-school and summer enrichment program to prepare 1,250 high school students for admission to college and careers in health care.

During each year of the five-year grant, the C2 (College and Career-Ready) pipeline project will offer 50 students at each of five public high schools a 38-week program to improve academic achievement, enhance preparation for college and encourage interest in health careers.   The five high schools are Ecorse, Oak Park, Detroit Northwestern, Detroit Cody and East Detroit.

"We sought this grant to help alleviate the uneven distribution of health care professionals in Michigan," said Barbara K. Redman, dean of the College of Nursing. "The goal is to encourage students from medically underserved areas to choose health careers and gain the academic skills necessary for college so they can eventually work as health professionals in the communities where they live. C2 Pipeline reflects Wayne State University's commitment to the urban communities it serves, and the College of Nursing's focus on preparing a highly trained health workforce for the future."   C2 Pipeline will provide 10 hours of after-school activities weekly and a six-week summer program that will include field trips and college tours for students in grades nine through 12. In addition to the academic and health career focus, the program will provide a supportive environment for students. A meal will be provided and transportation will be available if needed, although the program will be held primarily at the host schools.

Tutors and enrichment instructors will be experienced and meet all state licensing guidelines. Creative lesson plans will complement the school district's core curriculum and school improvement plan. The program will be based on the 21st Century Learning Center, a successful state program for youth in urban settings.   Program results will be evaluated based on increased attendance, improved grades, student retention and graduation rates, as well as the number of students who enroll in a community college or university compared to a control group. A Stakeholders Advisory Committee including parents, program partners, community stakeholders and representatives of the Area Wide Parents Advisory Councils will review C2 Pipeline's progress; a comprehensive evaluation of the program also will be conducted.   The C2 Pipeline project is sponsored by Wayne State University (College of Nursing, School of Medicine, School of Social Work and the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and the Michigan Area Health Education Center, established in 2010 to "connect students to careers, professionals to communities and communities to better health."   The program will begin during the fall semester of 2012, when information sessions will be held at each school and student applications will be available. Additional information is available from Don Neal, Wayne State University College of Nursing, at en6396@wayne.edu.

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