On May 12, officials from the Indiana Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship (OWBLA) joined South Bend Community School Corp. (SBCSC) administrators and faculty, employer partners, students, and community stakeholders to formally recognize South Bend’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Health Science Education pathway as a certified Indiana State Earn and Learn (SEAL) program.

The Health Science SEAL is aligned to the Indiana Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE) new Next Level Programs of Study and includes multiple employer partners that provide opportunities for students to work and learn through paid internships and employment. Students in the program will earn up to 23.5 credits through Ivy Tech Community College and seven industry-recognized credentials including CNA, CCMA, Phlebotomy, and EKG.

“SBCSC’s Health Science Education SEAL is an outstanding example of collaboration and innovation at work,” said Matt Presley, Regional Director in the OWBLA. “They have been intentional in their pursuit of new opportunities for students, like the Phlebotomy certification, to not only provide students with highly valued skills but also meet the needs of healthcare employers in South Bend. This best-practice SEAL program will serve as a model for the development of high-quality nursing programs across our state.”

South Bend nursing students have played a critical role during the Covid-19 pandemic, serving on the front lines in long-term healthcare facilities.

“The determination and dedication of these students are at the heart of what it means to be a caregiver,” said Theresa Godette, Career and Technical Education Health Sciences teacher and Ivy Tech nursing instructor. “In an academic year unlike any we’ve known, they have gained experience many nursing students might not have until their second year in college.” 

South Bend Community School Corp. Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings shared his thoughts, stating, “These young men and women are among our most courageous and selfless students. Their immersion into the world of caregiving is not only preparing them for bright futures in nursing but is truly impacting the lives of those in need. Their willingness to provide hands-on and necessary care while learning nursing skills and managing a full course load is remarkable and inspiring.” 

For students like Riley High School senior Lacey Hammett, the SEAL program is providing a jump start on her future.

“I have been given amazing opportunities that I never thought I would have experienced as a junior and senior in high school, “she said. “At only 16 years old and in the middle of a global pandemic, I have been able to get my CNA certification and experience my first job in the healthcare field. I feel like I already have such a head start as I continue my college education in the fall.”

SEALs serve as both Indiana’s state-level apprenticeship and U.S. Department of Labor pre-apprenticeship programs. They are designed to deliver a work-and-learn experience for participants along with the skills and certifications that employers value.

For more information about the South Bend School Corporation SEAL program or SEALs in general, visit the OWBLA website at www.INwbl.com or email the Indiana Department of Workforce Development Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship at [email protected].

###

About the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
DWD serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by providing WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information, Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training. Through these services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that enables Indiana employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside our state to relocate to Indiana.

About the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship
The Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship, located within the Department of Workforce Development and part of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s NextLevel Agenda, serves to develop and implement a framework of work-based learning pathways for both youth and adult populations with a concentration on certified State Earn and Learn (SEAL) and U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship programs.