Northwest Missouri Health Education Center

The Northwest Missouri Area Health Education Center hosted by Heartland Health in St. Joseph is designed to enhance access to quality healthcare by growing and supporting Missouri’s health care workforce. For three years, the center has partnered with North Kansas City schools. This year, the effort is serving 54 students from four high schools, up from 18 students last year.

The program currently involves credit-based courses that students take during the day. Grant funded, the program includes four employees who support the partnership. They provide the district with health careers curriculum and loan supplies that include blood-pressure cuffs and stethoscopes. Staff serves as guest speakers in the classroom and last June hosted a two-day training exclusively for NKC teachers and counselors at North Kansas City Hospital. All 54 students received CPR training.

The impact of the work is dramatic. After the two-day training, a veteran counselor said she would start coaching her students differently because of what she had learned. A student had a similar experience. “Now that I know what I want to do, I’m doing what I need to.”

Return to Star Partner Page