Agua Fria Union High School District students are beginning college nursing prerequisites while still in high school through a partnership aimed at addressing a shortage of health care workers in the West Valley.
The district partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Accelerate ASU to create a structured healthcare and nursing pathway through the Academies of the Southwest Valley. The partnership was highlighted during the Sept 2 Governing Board meeting.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona invested $40,000 in the initiative, according to Dr. Sarah Pearson, who presented the program to the board.
Pearson said the idea grew out of conversations with health care organizations participating in the district's medical summits.
"Every medical partner voiced the need for more healthcare workers in the West Valley," Pearson said, describing the region as offering opportunities for high-demand, high-wage careers.
These conversations also identified admission into nursing and health care programs as an obstacle for some students.
Blue Cross Blue Shield's investment is intended to help address that barrier.
Agua Fria, the insurer and Accelerate ASU subsequently formed the partnership, "with the goal of strengthening Arizona's future health care workforce and expanding college access to West Valley students," Pearson said.
Participating students take ASU Universal Learner nursing foundation courses that serve as prerequisites for applying to ASU's nursing program. The credits can also transfer to other in-state colleges.
Students participating in the pathway were recognized during the board meeting.
Governing Board President Libbie Acton, who said she is a nurse in the community, emphasized the need for more health care workers.
“We need nurses so badly, everyone in health care,” Acton said. She praised the district for fostering students’ interest in healthcare at a young age and giving them resources to succeed, adding that the effort “builds my nursing heart.”
The program is part of Agua Fria's broader Academies of the Southwest Valley model, which seeks to connect students with career pathways and employers before they graduate.
Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Meet Stacy Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.
Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.
Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!
Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.
Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here