CareerTech
A workforce development model that invests in educating local residents — particularly rural youth — to become healthcare workers who are statistically more likely to remain in their home communities. Oklahoma's CareerTech system, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, offers high school LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) programs. The RHTP allocates $1.1 million to expand this program to 10 additional rural schools.
The 'grow your own' approach reflects a national policy consensus that importing healthcare workers to rural communities is less sustainable than developing them locally. Research consistently shows that providers who train in rural areas and who have rural roots are significantly more likely to practice there long-term. This workforce development strategy is aligned with broader national goals in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and workforce development components of other federal programs.
Critical Infrastructure Terms
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
I
L
M
N
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y