Project Title: Broward College Health Careers Opportunity Program Academy (BC-HCOP) Applicant Organizational Name: Broward College Address: 111 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Project Director Name: Dr. Nora Powell Contract Phone Number: (954) 201-2060 Email Address: npowel1@broward.edu Website Address: https://www.broward.edu/academics/health-sciences/ Funds Requested: $3,250,000 Funding Preference: Comprehensive Approach HRSA-23-003 30 Section 739(b) As Broward County’s only public two-year college, Broward College is the primary point of entry for a many low-income students. The mission of the Allied Health Sciences Program in the Health Sciences Pathway at Broward College is to prepare competent, caring, culturally sensitive, graduates for meaningful employment as allied healthcare professionals. The regional workforce demand for health sciences professionals is high and these careers offer potential for long-term career growth from entry level positions to higher levels with added education and experience. Broward College (BC) is proposing the BC-Health Careers Opportunity Program Academy (BC-HCOP). The program will support HRSA program goals by implementing the Required Structured Program HCOP National Ambassadors Program and two complementary structured programs: (1) an HCOP Summer Program, and (2) an HCOP Pre-matriculation Program. All students served by the program will be economically and/or educationally underserved. The overarching goals of BC-HCOP are: 1. To improve recruitment, matriculation, retention, and graduation rates by implementing tailored enrichment programs designed to address the academic and social needs of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 2. To provide opportunities for community-based experiential health professions training, emphasizing experiences in underserved communities. BC-HCOP will meet these HCOP goals by implementing a comprehensive schedule of evidence-based strategies to increase e
ducation and training access for underserved and underrepresented students from communities where intergenerational poverty significantly impacts economic mobility and health disparities. The project will use a case management model to assess participants and link them to academic and wrap-around support services based on their needs. BC-HCOP activities and services, including scholarships and stipends, will support the development of a workforce of Allied Health professionals to close employment gaps in regional Health Professional Shortage Areas. The HCOP Project will benefit from over 500 healthcare partner affiliate agreements providing clinical experiences for the Health Sciences Pathway. The project will serve three target populations of students, rising high school juniors and seniors, undergraduate students at Broward College, and Allied Health professions students at Broward College. BC-HCOP will leverage Broward UP (Unlimited Potential) partnership resources to increase access and support enhanced outreach for economically and educationally disadvantaged populations. Broward UP is a movement driven by Broward College in collaboration with over 35 partners to provide linkages to community partners and resources providing services for students to overcome barriers to retention and completion such as food insecurity, childcare, and transportation. BC-HCOP outreach activities will take place at Broward UP community partner locations and at high schools in these communities with high rates of free and reduced lunch for students.