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Date: Monday, Feb. 12, 1996 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Roebuck, HRSA, (301) 443-3376
HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today designated the Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Primary Health Care as the department's lead unit charged with enhancing the development of Washington, D.C.'s Eastern High School Health and Human Services Academy, "a school within a school."
The Health and Human Services Academy will serve as a national model laboratory school, which will incorporate a "best practices" training model to prepare graduates to successfully enter the world of work, or pursue post-secondary training within the health and human services industry.
"The department's collaboration with District of Columbia Public Schools and Eastern High School forms a unique federal/local partnership," Shalala said.
A kick-off event for the initiative, "A Blueprint for Leadership," will start with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between HHS and the D.C. Public Schools at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Great Hall of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C.
Signatories to the memorandum will be: HHS Secretary Shalala; Ciro V. Sumaya, M.D., M.P.H.T.M., administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration; Marilyn H. Gaston,
M.D., director, Bureau of Primary Health Care, who will sign on behalf of HHS; Dr. Franklin Smith, superintendent of D.C. Public Schools; Ralph Neal, principal, Eastern High School, and
Mrs. Flossie Johnson, director/coordinator of the Health and Human Services Academy, on behalf of the D.C. Public Schools.
Immediately following the signing, 350 academy students will head to agencies and programs within HHS to participate in a Mentor Shadowing Program.
"We hope that this early exposure will motivate students to consider careers in health," said Dr. Sumaya. "Reaching them early is the key."
"Emerging trends reveal the need for a Department of Health and Human Services initiative such as this one," said Secretary Shalala. She added that the resources and skills for such an undertaking already exist within the department, and can be used with minimal effort or expense.
As the agency responsible for overseeing the nation's health and human services programs, HHS believes that this partnership with the academy and the D.C. Public Schools is an example of how federal agencies can develop new linkages with local communities to solve common problems.
"All of us at the Bureau of Primary Health Care are happy that we are moving forward with this program," said Dr. Gaston.
Health and Human Services Academy students are "12-month" students. During the summer months students are paid, if funds are available, to work in health and human services facilities where they absorb basic employment skills and learn about the operation of such a facility.
Entrance requirements include: completion of grade 8 or 9; a minimum 2.5 grade point average in junior high/middle school; good citizenship and attendance records; a copy of transcript, report card, and test scores. Immunization records are also needed, as well as at least two recommendations, and a pre-admissions interview.
For further information on the program, contact Mrs. Flossie M. Johnson, director/coordinator, Health and Human Services Academy, Eastern Senior High School, Washington, D.C., at (202) 724-8737.