High school career academies are small learning communities within large, usually urban, high schools. Their personalized structure offers students the opportunity to build positive relationships with caring adults, and explore and develop career skills. Research and personal reports indicate that students in academies stay in school, graduate, have increased expectations for their own success, and achieve positive post-secondary experiences in employment and educational areas. There are now some 2,000 academies nationwide and they are growing with the advent of school-to-careers and comprehensive school reform legislation and funding. Close to 20 percent of them are focused on health related careers.

Mission of the Initiative

The mission of the National Network of Health Academies and Health Career-Focused Programs is to increase the effectiveness of high school health career programs and the numbers of students entering health occupations. By focusing on issues of common interest and concern to health career-oriented programs and identifying and leveraging resources, a national network of cutting edge, school-to-work, health career-focused programs will be established.

The network will provide and generate support for high school students to learn about and pursue careers in health-related occupations through the collaboration of school systems; Health and Human Services agencies, resources and funded initiatives; individuals; and national organizations dedicated to expanding and improving life options for youth.

The overarching mission of the initiative is to have a powerful and positive impact on the health of entire communities through increased educational opportunities and the services that will be generated because of them.

Highlights of Network Goals/Accomplishments