Santa Rosa Education Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports education in Santa Rosa School District, today announced it has received a grant for $15,000 as part of a two-year $500,000 grant from the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (Consortium) aimed at increasing student interest in healthcare careers and successful participation in high school healthcare career academies, particularly among students from underrepresented communities.
Through the ‘Explore & Excel in Healthcare Career Pathways’ program grant, Santa Rosa Education Foundation will work with Santa Rosa District Schools to equip a future healthcare workforce by creating authentic innovative learning experiences that encourage and prepare students to develop skills and aptitude through the application of health sciences with a focus on STEAM innovation.
“Santa Rosa County School District’s Workforce Education Department is grateful to have received the Explore & Excel in Healthcare Career Pathways Across Florida grant award from The Frederick A DeLuca Foundation,” Charlin Knight, Director of Workforce Education said. “This funding, in the amount of $15,000, will increase student interest in healthcare careers, enrollment in our high school healthcare related CTE programs and academies, and the number of health-related industry certifications being earned by Santa Rosa students. We plan to use it to purchase curriculum, provide summer camp opportunities for middle school students and to develop marketing materials emphasizing healthcare pathway opportunities. This funding will also advance academic excellence and provide a seamless learning transition from elementary to secondary to postsecondary for our students.”
The target group of students for this project are 6-8th graders at each of Santa Rosa District middle schools, as well as those high school students who plan to pursue a health career pathway.
“The Consortium is pleased to bring much-needed healthcare career pathway exploration and acceleration opportunities to students across the state of Florida,” said Mary Chance, President/CEO of the Consortium. “As healthcare careers continue to be in-demand, the need to inspire and engage students in this area is critical.” Santa Rosa Education Foundation will participate in a learning community hosted by the Consortium to share leading practices and resources with additional Florida education foundations participating in the program. Successful programs will have the opportunity to receive a second year of funding to continue their initiative in the 2023-24 school year.