CCDPH Celebrates Student Interns from Suburban Cook County

Student interns from Cook County Department of Public Health's Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program showcase their certificates after completing CPR training.
Student interns from Cook County Department of Public Health's Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program showcase their certificates after completing CPR training.

CCDPH Celebrates Student Interns from Suburban Cook County

Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program Builds Pathways into Public Health Careers  

FOREST PARK, IL – This summer, Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) welcomed 10 student interns into its Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program, a new, pilot eight-week internship offering hands-on training, academic support, and career pathways into the field of public health.  The department will celebrate the interns and their achievements in a closing ceremony on Friday, Aug. 1 at a banquet hall in Oak Lawn, Ill.  

The high school pipeline program is designed to build a more diverse and inclusive public health workforce by increasing the representation of people of color in allied health careers, including community health workers. 

“Our goal is to create early exposure to public health careers and inspire the next generation of health leaders,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health. “Programs like this help build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and strengthen public health from the ground up.” 

“Creating programs that provide youth with access to public health through training, education, and hands-on experience is essential to advancing health equity. These opportunities not only nurture the next generation of leaders but also help build a more inclusive and representative public health workforce,” said CCDPH Associate Program Director Xandria Hair, who leads and oversees the initiative. 

Student intern Elina Augilar reflected on her experience as a CCDPH intern. "I really enjoyed being out in the community and interacting with people,” Augilar said.  “We developed a health education series and created a game to play at community events that helped raise awareness about how much sugar is in drinks. It was a lot of fun, but most importantly, it might help people rethink drinks that are high in sugar."

 The Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program is spearheaded by CCDPH and supported by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Developed in response to the workforce shortages and health disparities deepened by COVID-19, the high school pipeline program provides students from suburban Cook County with meaningful training and education.

The internship follows a yearlong school program in which students earned a Community Health Worker Core Skills Basic Certificate and six to nine credit hours through a partnership with South Suburban College and Sinai Urban Health Institute. Participants are students from Bremen High School District 228 in suburban Cook County. Additionally, CCDPH partnered with Family Christian Health Center to provide internship opportunities to youth in suburban Cook County.

In addition to academic credit, the students received specialized training in mental health first aid, trauma-informed care, CPR, first aid, and emergency response. Throughout the summer, the interns were placed across various CCDPH units, including Community Engagement, Communications, Epidemiology, Chronic Disease Prevention, and Behavioral Health. They gained valuable real world experience serving communities disproportionately impacted by health inequities. 

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