Health Careers Program Mission:
To promote linkages and opportunities, in partnership with the community, for minority and disadvantaged youth through health careers exploration

Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students:

Hands On Science Outreach
Building on their natural curiosity for exploring the world, this innovative curriculum exposes children in grades K-6 to science and helps prepare them for future training in a health career. Central AHEC can conduct these workshops or can provide training to members of your school or community. Because it inspires children to excel in the fields of math and science, this program may help to improve students’ performance abilities on Connecticut standardized tests.

Nutrition Program
Central AHEC has designed a nutrition program based on the USDA food and activity guidelines. The program has been developed and used with children in grades K-3rd. A program has been completed for grades 3 and 4, and will be piloted in December.

Health Careers Exploration Activities
Central AHEC has developed interactive games including Healthy Eating BINGO and Health Careers Jeopardy, to encourage elementary and middle school students to explore their interests in health careers. For middle and high school students, a PowerPoint presentation is available to provide an overview of the health care field, along with videos highlighting specific careers of interest. We are happy to come to your school and host an activity.

Activities for High School Students:

Connecticut Youth Health Service Corps
Through volunteer training, high school students will provide valuable services to community agencies while learning about vulnerable populations and careers in health care. This opportunity can be used to help students complete community service hours required for graduation. This initiative is sponsored by the Connecticut AHEC Program, CT Department of Public Health and the Connecticut Primary Care Association.

“Careers for the Future” Summer Medical Camps
A summer health careers exploration program for high school students interested in pursuing a career in health care. The program is offered at a community health center, three hospitals, and migrant farm worker camps where students receive first hand experience working in all kinds of medical environments. By exposing them to a multitude of health care professions, this program helps students decide which field of health care they want to pursue and also prepares them for the training they will need for that career.

We also offer…

HOT (Health Occupations and Technology) Guide
A comprehensive resource guide on health careers for students, parents, guidance counselors and others interested in learning more about the health career field. It provides information on each profession including a basic description, academic requirements, places of employment, employment trends, licensure/certification information, resources to professional organizations and salary ranges. The guide is available as a printed manual and on the web at www.HealthCareersinCT.com.

Health Careers Chronicle
This publication provides students with information about our programs, school-community partnerships, and hot topics in health.

Speakers Bureau
Central AHEC is always working to recruit health professionals from a wide variety of health care fields to work and share their experiences with students. We work with schools to organize guest speakers, presenters and representatives for health/career fairs. We can also help expose students to careers in the health field by personally presenting to them the many opportunities available.

Central AHEC works with each school on an individual basis. We are willing to assist you in any way that we can and can personalize our services to suit your needs. Please contact us with any project ideas, career fairs, or anything else that we may be able to help with.