Category: Other Articles

Student Learning Opportunities Start Young in Healthcare Field

1/10/2019

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), there is a projected increase in demand for registered nurses (RNs) nationally, from 2.7 million in 2014 to 3.2 million in 2024. Additionally, there is a projected shortage of RNs due to an increase of baby boomers needing medical care as they age. The AACN hopes to increase the percent of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce to 80%, yet are currently falling short of that: only 50% of nurses are at the baccalaureate or graduate level.

This is where Building Our Future can shine a light on the community need and on partners doing this work. If a junior- or senior-level student in the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) is interested in eventually working in the medical field, taking advantage of KUSD’s coursework at Tremper or Indian Trail High Schools to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) is a good start. Due to the crisis and shortage of qualified workers in the healthcare field, KUSD, in partnership with Gateway Technical College, is promoting the program as part of its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that help students earn a living wage. After the 3-credit course completion, there is a $125 exam fee, which for 2018-2019, Gateway has received a grant to cover. Once completing and passing the exam, students receive their CNA certification from the state of Wisconsin and can then apply for a Youth Apprenticeship.

Froedtert South, located in Kenosha County, offers plenty of opportunities for students to visit Froedtert’s hospital and simulation center to see if a career in the medical field might be right for them. It’s an interactive opportunity with a two-hour simulation-based learning experience offered the first Monday (9 – 11 a.m.) and Friday (Noon – 2 p.m.) of every month. The session includes an overview of health care careers and provides an opportunity to learn more with a customized experience, where you can select from different activities like pharmacy phun, sounds of your body, internal organ puzzle, and more.

Froedtert South, and other healthcare providers, have opportunities for entry-level CNAs once they have completed their certification. Froedtert’s program offers flexible scheduling, a variety of departments to focus in, and basic life support training. This is great for high school students who want to get a head start in their medical career. They also currently have internship opportunities in the following areas: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Finance, Information Services and Human Resources. Thinking about career-based learning experiences now can not only ensure students are on a path to earning a living wage after high school, but can also help Kenosha County meet its need for healthcare professionals.

Call To Action

Look at the different opportunities Froedtert South may have for you: https://www.froedtert.com/health-care-professionals/student-experience
Look into the KUSD certified nursing assistant program by talking to your advisor or for more information here: https://www.kusd.edu/departments/teaching-and-learning/career-and-technical-education/contracted-services/certified

Job Posting: Policy Research Project Manager

10/11/2018

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Community Conversation Schedule Set

8/27/2018

We need You: Your Knowledge. Your experiences. Your skills. YOU!
Join us for a conversation as we take action to be a model community that builds partnerships through awareness, trust and relationships to support the success of children and families.

This a free, casual gathering open to all Kenosha Community members. Questions? Contact Building Our Future at info@buildingourfuturekc.org

Facebook Event Page

3rd Thursday of every month
4:30 to 6:00 PM
Brass Community School
September 20
October 18
November 15
December 20
January 17, 2019
February 21
March 21
April 11*
May 16
June 20

THE WISCONSIN PARTNERSHIP RECEIVES NEARLY $350,000 THROUGH $20 MILLION GRANT PROGRAM BY NATIONAL NONPROFIT STRIVETOGETHER TO USE DATA TO IMPROVE RESULTS FOR KIDS

8/27/2018

The Wisconsin Partnership one of 16 winning initiatives that will tackle systems changes needed to help children and families living in poverty move up the economic ladder

KENOSHA, WI — The Wisconsin Partnership, which includes Building Our Future, Milwaukee Succeeds, Higher Expectations for Racine County, and Achieve Brown County has received nearly $350,000 from StriveTogether, a national nonprofit working to bring communities together around data to make decisions and improve results for kids. The Wisconsin Partnership will use its grant award to test, learn, and spread strategies focused on advancing policy change within Wisconsin.

The grant award is part of StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Community Challenge, which seeks to create local change to enable economic mobility. The program’s goal is to strengthen and align the many systems, such as education, employment, health and housing that shape opportunity for children and families in America.

“This project will allow Building Our Future to elevate our work in state and local activities in order to generate meaningful student outcomes at scale,” said Tatjana Bicanin, executive director of Building Our Future.

“We have leadership from all sectors of Kenosha County that understand the need for alignment,” said Jean Moran, former CEO of LMI Packaging and executive sponsor. “We all know there is much more work to do. The best news of all is that we are ready, willing, and able to do what is needed.”

The Wisconsin Partnership will focus on addressing mobilization of systems-level barriers that prevent families from accessing high-quality early care and education through community engagement.

Through the Community Challenge, more than $20 million over the next three years will fund projects
across the country that aim to shift public policy and engage the systems needed to help students progress from kindergarten to postsecondary completion and finding a job.

The Wisconsin Partnership is receiving its grant through the Community Challenge’s Strategic Initiatives Fund, which supports projects working to advance policy change for children by engaging policy leaders, leading grassroots advocacy and coordinating efforts within state and local coalitions. As part of the Strategic Initiatives Fund, the Wisconsin Partnership has one of seven policy-focused projects being awarded grants of up to $350,000 per year for three years. Communities in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network were eligible to apply for the Community Challenge.

“Education is key to a strong economy, and every child should have the opportunity to achieve his or
her fullest potential, but existing systems don’t always support the success of students, particularly students of color and those from low-income families,” StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz said. “Using the common language of data, we can create better, more equitable systems to improve outcomes for major milestones in every child’s life. Our Cradle to Career Community Challenge will enhance and expand the real, lasting results underway across our 70 communities.”

About Building Our Future
Building Our Future is Kenosha County’s first cradle to career collective impact effort focused on
education and workforce development with leadership representing schools, businesses,
government, civic organizations, and nonprofits, committed to improving student outcomes. As a community we focus on three shared goals: Every child enters school ready to learn, Every student succeeds in school, and Every student succeeds in a career.

About StriveTogether
StriveTogether leads a national movement of 70 communities to get better results in every child’s
life. We coach and connect partners across the country to close gaps by using local data, especially for children of color and low-income children. Communities using our proven approach have seen measurable gains in kindergarten readiness, academic achievement and postsecondary success. The
StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network reaches 10.4 million students, involves 10,800 organizations and has partners in 30 states and Washington, D.C.

Join in the CommUNITY Conversation

7/31/2018

Our next CommUNITY Conversation is scheduled for Thursday, August 16th, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM at Brass Community School.

We need You: Your Knowledge. Your experiences. Your skills. YOU!
Join us for a conversation develop our CALL TO ACTION provide the most benefit to our families and children’s success.

This a free, casual gathering open to all Kenosha Community members. Questions? Contact Building Our Future More information and RSVP

1 Year Anniversary

7/24/2018

We’re celebrating a work anniversary at Building Our Future! Eric Lequesne, Research and Evaluation Manager is celebrating his 1-year anniversary!! Eric is responsible for collecting relevant data, translating that data into actionable information to drive systemic change toward success for every child, cradle to career. We are so proud to have him as part of our work family. We look forward to seeing all the great things we know he will accomplish in the upcoming years!