CHARLESTON, Ill. – (Effingham Radio) – Eastern Illinois University has been awarded $44,500 in Cooperative Work-Study Grants from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to pay students to complete health-related internships in rural east-central Illinois.
With the support of the grant, EIU will place 10 students with partner organizations serving Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland and Wabash counties to help meet the rural health care needs of these communities. The program provides compensatory support to EIU student interns who work in these communities while completing their degree requirements and preparing to enter the workforce.
“This grant not only provides important hands-on training for our students, but also ensures that it supports the health care system both within and beyond EIU’s primary service region,” said Dr. Nikki Hillier, internship coordinator and faculty member in EIU’s Department of Health and Nutrition. “Both nationally and here in Central Illinois, the health care industry is poised to employ talented students, especially in and around rural communities. EIU is robustly and proactively addressing the region’s workforce needs by providing affordable and accessible medical degree programs and opportunities like these internships and the EIU Career Placement Assistance Program. We thank IBHE for supporting this important program.”
Program leaders Dr. Suzie Park, vice president of Academic Affairs, Ms. Colleen Kattenbraker, internship coordinator for Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, Dr. Mark Kattenbraker, dean of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, and Hillier believe the program, titled “Working in Healthy Rural Illinois,” will have a profound impact on students, especially economically disadvantaged learners who may struggle to find supportive internship placements near the end of their higher education journey. The grant combats what program leaders labeled as a “disappointing” trend where highly qualified candidates are unable to take on unpaid internships while balancing EIU classwork, other paid work, or the responsibilities of their own children and families.
Whether a student is selected for an internship at an advocacy and counseling center, a local county public health department, a family fitness center, a local community hospital, or a local parks and recreation department, grant recipients (interns) will gain valuable skills, especially in management, education, and community outreach. Student interns will work for nonprofit and government organizations with which EIU has long-standing relationships.
EIU’s partners in this public health internship initiative include Sarah Bush Lincoln, Charleston Parks and Recreation, the Douglas and Edgar County Health Departments, and Prevail IL, a Charleston-based domestic violence counseling, advocacy, case management, community education and prevention service.
