This commemorative poster will be given to all teachers and sponsors who participate in the 2015 Health Professions Conference.

The Student Health Ambassador Project (IESHA) launches this month as Program Assistant, Marina Mejia, pictured below visits several schools near Kids Come First clinic in Ontario, Community Health System in Moreno Valley, and SACHS clinic in San Bernardino. She recruiting students for this project. For more information contact Marina at marina@we-reachout.org

Marina Mejia shares the new IESHA program with students.

Stepping Stones 2015 -- St. Bernardine's Medical Center held an orientation night for students interested in the this volunteer program. The room was packed as Kathleen McDonald, from Community Benefits, overviewed the program, answered questions and collected resumes. HEAL Academy teacher Carla Garcia was there to encourage her students to get involved. The Stepping Stones Program offers an insight into the work of healthcare professionals in many different departments including: Physical Therapy, Critical Care, Labor & Delivery, NICU (Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit), Post-Partum and Pharmacy. Additionally, non-clinical departments also provide exposure to a variety of fields including: IT (Information Technology), Dietary, Education, Outreach Centers and Foundation. One of the newest volunteer opportunities is the ED Ambassador Program, which is ideal for the college student   or recent graduate who enjoys the fast-paced atmosphere of the Emergency Department. The role of the ED Ambassador supports communication between the medical staff and waiting patient and family members. .  

$470,000 in award funding is now available through the Mini Grants Program (MGP). The purpose of the MPG is to  develop a more culturally and linguistically-competent healthcare workforce for Californians. Request for Applications (RFA) will be considered for programs that encourage underrepresented and disadvantaged groups to pursue health careers, thus creating diversity in the health professions. This year OSHPD will fund applications from two categories: A) Health Career Conferences and/or workshops and B) Health Career Exploration. The funds will be divided between the two categories as follows: 35 total awards of $12,000 each for (A) and $15,000 each for (B).

A portion of this year's applications will be funded by the  following:

• Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)
• Workforce  Education and Training Program (WET) which promotes pathway strategies to expose students to careers in mental/behavioral health,
• The California Endowment (TCE) for programs located in one of the 14 designated communities or counties of the Central Valley 
• California State Office of Rural Health (CalSORH) for programs located in and/or serving rural area and/or serving migrant seasonal farmworkers or spouses, legal partners and/or children of migrant/seasonal farmworkers.

The RFA for funding consideration is now available and has been posted on the Mini Grants program webpage: oshpd.ca.gov/HWDD/HCTP_mini_grants.html. Applications are due by February 20, 2015. This year we are offering technical assistance webinar on February 18. Register to attend a webinar here: surveymonkey.com/s/RFA145404.

The Mini Grants Program is a part of the Health Careers Training Program (HCTP). HCTP offers exciting resources on health careers for students via our HCTP resources page: oshpd.ca.gov/HWDD/HCTP.html including the healthcare pathways student newsletter. A recent issue features mental health careers as well as healthcare students and professionals who represent boys and men of color, sharing experiences and strategies for success.

The Women's Policy Institute has been a great success among graduates, community organizations and policy makers and has known for a long time that it needs to grow to reach more women. So last year they partnered with the California Endowment to launch a satellite Women's Policy Institute in Riverside County.