LA-25 Tri-Cities ROP: Enhancing Access Opportunities to Health Science Education

Pathways Improvement Scope

The Tri-Cities ROP aims to address the chronic shortage of health workers in the LA region, particularly nurses, nursing assistants, and medical assistants. The 2017-21 and 2021-24 LA Regional Plans have identified Health as a priority sector, supported by labor market information indicating a significant need for home health aides, medical assistants, nursing assistants, and nurses. This project seeks to address this demand by establishing a new pathway in medical assisting and enhancing access to career ladders, mainly through nursing pathways. Key focus areas include providing early college credit, increasing enrollment capacity, and offering support services tailored to traditionally underserved students and those classified as unduplicated pupils or Perkins special populations, collectively disproportionately impacted students.

Goals & Priorities

TCROP administration will provide professional development for teachers, staff, to appropriately serve disproportionately impacted students and focus on closing equity gaps . Teachers will revise the Medical Core concentrator and develop the MA capstone course in collaboration with Rio Hondo College to ensure pathway alignment and early college credit opportunities providing students with the skills leading toward certification. Students will benefit from mapped pathways from high school to health careers, supported by work-based learning partnerships, campus tours, guest speakers, and individual counseling provided by the Student Success Team. Efforts include targeted interventions such as equity-focused workshops, CNA surveys to tailor student support, and assistance with certification exams. Data collection will track enrollment, completion, and transition rates to ensure sustainability. A new CCAP agreement and established WBL sites will provide long-term benefits, while SST activities like career mapping, tutoring, and mentoring will improve pathway completion and postsecondary transitions. Partnerships with industry and Rio Hondo College will strengthen connections between education and workforce demands.