RUSD: New program offers out-of-school youth chance to pursue health careers

A new program offered through the Rialto Unified School District is giving out-of-school teens and young adults a pathway toward health careers.

The Health Occupations Training program, HOT, provides free GED and high school diploma support, advanced training and college enrollment in health-related fields and certificate programs to 16 to 24-year olds not enrolled in high school, facing homelessness, pregnancy, disability or in foster care.

Two information sessions are planned in Rialto to introduce HOT. The first meeting is set today at 5 p.m. at the District Education Center, 182 East Walnut Avenue, and the second at 5 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Cesar Chavez/ Dolores Huerta Center for Education, 324 North Palm Avenue.

Enrollment in the program is limited.

To RSVP for one of the information sessions call Melanie Harrison, at 909-363- 5221.

HOT is made possible through a partnership with Inland Coalition Advancing Diversity and Education in the Health Careers (Inland Coalition) and Reach Out, a community-based nonprofit that provides access to networks of support, education, career options and opportunities to young adults in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Funding for the program is made possible by the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board.

To learn more visti, www.inlandcoalition.org or www.we-reachout.org.