CSU Receives a $12 million Health Profession Opportunity Grant

Chicago State University (CSU) has received a twelve million dollar Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) administered by the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The grant, entitled Partnership to STEP-UP in Health Careers (STEP-UP), is a collaborative effort between CSU, South Suburban College, Proactive Community Services and Metropolitan Family Services-Calumet to provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for high demand health professions of community/public health, health information administration, nursing, and occupational therapy.

“This grant is an incredible opportunity for our students, the community and CSU.  Healthcare continues to be one of the top employment opportunities in America and this grant will ensure that CSU students get the much needed skills that will allow them to remain competitive in the job market, “Dr. Angela Henderson, Provost

The STEP-UP program will provide a “wrap-around” approach of supportive services that addresses social, economic, and academic barriers to ensure participant success and attainment of highest level of education possible. The program is designed to offer eligible residents on Chicago’s South Side and neighboring South Suburbs the following assistance:

• Targeted competencies and training for health professions in high demand with career ladder options.
• Supportive services with educational training services with the intent to reach the highest career trajectory level.
• Clear articulated career pathways from the certificate level through the undergraduate degree level with necessary credentialing.
• Access to internships and employment support to help to overcome obstacles to attaining and maintaining employment.

The HPOG STEP-UP grant spans a period of 5 years and aims to achieve three specific goals: (1) enroll 700 participants in training and education programs, (2) train 486 participants to program completion and (3) place 438 participants in healthcare related employment following degree completion. Dr. Leslie Roundtree, the grant’s principal investigator stated “Both educational institutions and the collaborating community organizations have successful histories of working with individuals from the target population and their communities. This partnership enables us to create successful environments for career laddering as well as expose more individuals to the diversity of career options available in health care.”

“Grant funding supported by the Administration for Children and Families and contents are solely the responsibility of the authors.”