Preparing Urban Students for Health Careers

Abstract

This article presents a longitudinal case study of an urban district school-university partnership designed to prepare students for health careers. We not only summarize the accomplishments of this partnership but also identify factors in the partnership dynamics that hindered the expected improvement in student outcomes. By suggesting possible generalizations that can be tested elsewhere, we seek to contribute to theory building about the role of external partnerships in promoting career-focused high school reform. We conclude by making practical recommendations for similar university-high school partnerships in urban districts.

Engaging Students in Constructive Youth-Adult Relationships: A Case Study of Urban School-based Agriculture Students and Positive Adult Mentors

“…This research supports recent inquiries which attempted to identify strategies for establishing positive youth-adult relationships (Anderson & Sandmann, 2009;Larson, Walker, & Pearce, 2005;Libby, Rosen, & Sedonaen, 2005). This study also highlighted the unique role community partnerships play within urban students' career decisions, which was supported in a previous study (MacIver & Farley, 2005). This case study demonstrated how a schoolbased veterinary program can serve the needs of students in urban areas and provides insight to how agricultural education can continue serving the needs of an ever-changing society (National Research Council, 1988;National Research Council, 2009).…”

Effects of summer internship and follow-up distance mentoring programs on middle and high school student perceptions and interest in health careers

“…One study of a small, hospital-based mentoring program for African American high school students reported 92% attended college and 87% enrolled in health science degree programs [6]. Another similar hospital and university minority mentoring program that expanded from serving a small, elite group of students to an entire high school reported no improvement, or only minor improvement, on several academic indicators, such as graduation rate and college enrollment [7]. A third program reaching underserved minority students used community, school, and Internet-based resources to expose students to health careers.…”