REGIONAL INTERNSHIP (ages 16 - 18)
Overview
What is the Regional Internship Program?The Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION coordinates the Regional Internship program for the participating school districts in the Greater Danbury area. The Regional Internship program is a career development/School to Career program that helps students explore their career interest areas through paid internships, after school classes/workshops, field trips and an online survey course, Foundations in Health Science and Technology.
A limited number of selected students from each district are eligible to participate. It is designed as a two-year program for juniors and seniors interested in healthcare careers. Over the course of the school year, students can participate in two nine week placements. Students are placed based on their career interests.The students are paid through program funding.
The Internship Program is designed so that the student can shadow the professional as well as do work that is useful for the department or facility. The idea is that the student be exposed to all aspects of an industry and to learn skills necessary to be successful in that career.
Students are required to attend 2 mandatory Orientation classes given by the participating hospitals and monthly classes on a variety of topics. We have classes on different employment-related topics and we also have career speakers. The classes are held after school at one of the geographically central high schools. Students are also required to participate in our online course, Foundations in Health Science and Technology. MOODLE is our online curriculum delivery/communication tool. We aim to make students aware of the current issues and potential career options in healthcare.
We have Career Tour opportunities available for the students. In the past, we have participated in Hartford Hospital Career Days, Bodies: The Exhibition, a Genetics conference, a workshop about theatre production at Long Wharf Theatre, and a floating classroom through SoundWaters on Long Island Sound.
Goals for the Regional Internship Program:
• Meaningful work-based learning: One of the goals of the Internship Program is to provide a meaningful work-based learning experience for the student in her career interest area. We are committed to individualizing the program so that the work-based experience is directly related to the student’s interests. The work-based experience reinforces the classroom learning experience, and lets the student see the relevance of the classroom experience.
• Better decision making: The Internship is a model program that offers students a unique experience that enables them to make better post-secondary decisions. Students make better choices when they are more fully aware of their options. The Internship exposes them to many different opportunities to facilitate this.
• Work ethic: Another goal of the program is to reinforce a positive work ethic and professionalism. Students are required to follow a set schedule, act and dress professionally for their placement, etc.
• Work-based mentoring relationships: The Internship Program brings adults and youth together in a workplace setting. Interactions begin on a work level and mentors can demonstrate specific tasks as well as reinforce professionalism with the students.
• Participation: The criteria for acceptance in the program are that the student needs to be a junior or senior, maintain a “C” average (although exceptions are made on an individual basis through an interview process with the districts' Intern Coordinator/Guidance staff), and the student must have good attendance at school.
What are the Benefits of Participating in a Career Development/STC program?
There are many benefits for all those who participate in Career Development/School to Career programs. These programs support academic achievement, career preparation, and youth development.
• Students get better grades, have better attendance, and are more likely to go on to post-secondary training.
• Students plan for the future and act in ways that will help them achieve their goals.
• Students are confident about themselves when they learn new skills and report that program activities make them more interested in school.
• Career Development and STC programs help them understand why school is important.