Faribault Area Chamber continues promotional work, looks ahead

NORT JOHNSON

Guest columnist Nort Johnson is the president of the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

Faribault Area Chamber continues promotional work, looks ahead

The Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce works to maintain and improve the economic opportunities for business and individuals in our trade area. Advocacy, promotion, counseling, and networking are routine strategies for our work. We also work on initiatives designed to have long-term impact on the business climate here. To organize these efforts our Vision Task Force (VTF) built a set of priorities from the Community Vision 2040 results. The process included Chamber Board input and several sessions of deliberation as to which topics would have the most impact. First on the list, Excellence in Education.

VTF and Chamber staff took a leadership role on that priority and established strategies around school safety, facility upgrades and paths to success for all students. The pathways have become a rallying call for the Chamber, industry, public schools and South Central College. Representatives from all the partners listed above led the effort to create a career guidance position in the district and most importantly, to implement a seventh period, allowing capacity for pathways and career exploration.

The efforts have resulted in the newly implemented program H2C (High School to College Careers). The first pathways, in health care are live, with industrial/manufacturing pathways next. This is a seamless program for students to acquire the academic, technical, and workplace skills that employers need. Importantly, they are committed to ensuring students from all backgrounds are intentionally engaged with culturally and intellectually appropriate resources.

Through their efforts, students can earn a high school diploma, an industry-recognized associate degree, and gain relevant work experience in a growing field. The biggest upside — lifting Faribault families from poverty through focused education and industry participation. Here’s how it works. H2C Pathway (as outlined by Faribault Public Schools and South Central College)

Year one — foundational courses, students will explore health care careers and what it is like to be a health care professional.

Summer after year one — health care exploration with CPR — this course is in development as a collaboration between FPS instructors and SCC faculty and will result in the student earning a CPR certificate.

Year two — general education courses, what students learn in year two courses is transferable and then can be applied to many health sciences programs as well as other SCC programs.

Summer after year two — students choosing the nursing or medical assisting pathway will complete the application process for their program of choice. Each program offers a required orientation. Those in the nursing pathway will take the nursing assistant course which will prepare them to take the exam to earn their certified nursing assistant certification.

Year three — students take programmatic CORE courses during year three and, if not pursuing nursing or medical assisting, they will decide which health sciences pathway to pursue (trained medication aide (TMA), health unit coordinator, phlebotomy)

Post high school graduation — students who attend SCC full time will have one additional semester needed to graduate with a practical nursing diploma, and medical assisting students need one additional year of classes to earn their AAS degree.

In fall 2017, The Faribault Chamber of Commerce Board approved the formation of a committee to advance key priorities from the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29