The second Cincinnati Bridge to Employment (BTE) partnership focused on reaching out to at-risk youth in the Northwest Local School District at Colerain High School Career Center. The BTE project was coordinated through the Health Excel Services, a program of the Health Technologies Division at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College, in collaboration with Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a local Johnson & Johnson operating company. Together, they broadened the base of the learning environment and created a collaborative partnership. Through this and the previous three-year BTE program, a large number of students in the Diversified Health Occupations program:
- Participated in a dual enrollment program where they earned three transferable college credits through Cincinnati State Technical and Community College;
- Attended a Summer Institute with credit-bearing college level courses on the Cincinnati State campus;
- Gained Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, affording the opportunity to work as a CNA while in school;
- Participated in field trip experiences that complimented classroom teaching by increasing the student's exposure to numerous professional healthcare careers, including visits to Ethicon-Endo Surgery;
- Received in-class instruction on professional behaviors and communication skills;
- Participated in regional and state Diversified Health Occupation competitions (where at least one BTE participant won a gold medal); and
- Received career, academic and financial assistance counseling.
In 2004, the Cincinnati BTE partnership was awarded a third three-year grant by Johnson and Johnson to continue its work with students in the greater Cincinnati area.
