7. Location

 Is this a national initiative, or is its coverage limited to a particular region or locality? If so, please specify the region or locality covered. Provincial - Alberta

8. Overview of Program

 Please give a brief description of the initiative, in one or two sentences.

The Health Services Summer Internship program was designed through a partnership between Alberta Health and Wellness and CAREERS: The Next Generation. Students in Grade 11 and/or 12 are introduced to the many careers available in the health services sector through career research and exploration.
9. Why Developed / Problems / Issues Targeted What are the main aims or objectives of the initiative? Is it designed to address any particular problems or issues? If so, please specify what these are.
  • Promote the workplace as an extension of the classroom learning experience;
  • Provide youth with the opportunity to enroll in career programs, which provide a smooth transition to post-secondary education and/or employment;
  • Increase awareness and improve attitudes towards career alternatives in the local region; and,
  • Reduce or remove barriers and improve access to career experiences.

10. Key Features / Content

  • Innovative
  • Effective
  • Promising
 Please describe the main features of the program, focusing in particular on those aspects that are particularly innovative, effective or promising.

The Health Services Summer Internship Program is a two-year program that places high school students with a health services provider for a period of six weeks, or more, to assist in Health Services career exploration and to develop employability skills. This career exploration is intended to help students make informed choices about health careers.

Students who have completed grade 11 are given the chance to experience what it would be like to work in the health sector and at the same time receive high school credits for the hours worked. Students are paired with mentors in their area of interest and as integrated members of their departmental teams, have a direct opportunity to discover the many rewards a career in health care has to offer.

CCC’s Career Programs are intended to help students in grades 10 to 12 develop career direction, increase their employability potential, and promote a smooth transition from school to the workplace.

The programs have been designed in two parts –

  • Part 1 Job Readiness and Career Exploration and
  • Part 2 Career Related Work Experience.

Part 1 must be completed before a student is eligible for Part 2. Students will be selected for this program by meeting eligibility criteria. This helps teach the student about the importance of preparing for the goals you want to achieve. The Programs prepare students for employment, with specific attention to Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), Health Services, and Academic Technical/Professional opportunities. Job readiness and career exploration are key elements of this program. Resume Writing, Portfolio Building, Interview Skills and Mock Interviews are important highlights that, along with the use of career inventories, encourage students to identify their interests, values, aptitudes and abilities and relate them to the world of work.