The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE), the Novato Unified School District (NUSD), and By the Bay Health, Northern California’s largest independent nonprofit hospice provider, are joining forces to launch a strategic workforce initiative to address the growing healthcare talent shortage in the County. 

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Starting in Spring 2025, MCOE, NUSD, and By the Bay Health will pilot a new Career Technical Education (CTE) course at San Marin High School in Novato to introduce students to healthcare careers. The CTE course, Introduction to the World of Healthcare, will be the first high school course of its kind in the County designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to career opportunities in the healthcare field, including a focus on careers in community-based care in the home. An elective for 11th and 12th grade students, the curriculum will cover a range of topics from healthcare professions to medical ethics, communication, public health, and emerging trends in healthcare. Through hands-on skill practice, role-playing, field trips, and certification opportunities, students will gain real-world insights into the healthcare field. Clinical and non-clinical guest presenters will also share their professional experiences, helping students understand the diverse career paths available and to create an educational glidepath for successful entry into the diverse world of clinical and non-clinical professions in healthcare.

“We are excited to partner with By the Bay Health, one of the most innovative healthcare providers in Marin County, on this critical initiative to develop a thriving healthcare workforce to adequately support our growing community,” said John A. Carroll, MCOE Superintendent of Schools. “Introducing students at an earlier age to the diversity of options in the healthcare field is key, and by bringing real-world experience and clinical expertise into the classroom we can expose students to additional career options that will create a tangible impact in our community.”

Today’s healthcare landscape faces unprecedented staffing challenges and despite Marin County’s high average household income, nursing and home health professionals are in short supply. By 2030, California’s population of individuals aged 65 and older will reach 9 million, nearly 20 percent of the state’s residents. Marin County ranks 13th in the state for this age demographic at 22.3 percent. Following the Covid-19 pandemic’s effects on healthcare staffing, the Health Resources and Services Administration predicts nursing shortages through 2036, with California expecting a 26 percent deficit in registered nurses. 

“Our biggest barrier to ensuring access to high quality, accessible care in the home to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse and growing population of children and adults in Marin County is recruiting exceptional talent,” said Skelly Wingard, Chief Executive Officer of By the Bay Health. “We are optimistic this partnership with MCOE will inspire more students to join the continuum of care—particularly in areas like home-based palliative care, hospice care, and home health care.” 

“The Novato School District is thrilled to be the first in the County to offer this valuable CTE course at San Marin High School,” said Dr. Tracy Smith, Superintendent, Novato Unified School District. “Students are hungry for knowledge about careers where they can find meaning and purpose and based on the positive reception to the new course, we’re excited to support this initiative to build more interest in growing fields such as healthcare.” 

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Source – Prnewswire