Northeast PA Area Health Education Center Awarded $10,000 Grant from Robert H. Spitz Foundation

The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NEPA AHEC) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, to expand its Healthcare Pre-Apprenticeship Program for students at Carbondale Area High School.

The funding will support the integration of Community Health Worker (CHW) training into the program, creating a year-long pathway that helps approximately 20 students explore healthcare careers, develop workforce-ready skills, gain hands-on experience, and earn valuable training and credentials before graduating from high school.

“We are extremely grateful to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation and the Scranton Area Community Foundation for investing in our students and the future of our healthcare workforce,” said Debra Youngfelt, Executive Director of Northeast PA AHEC. “This funding allows us to provide students with meaningful healthcare training, career connections, and a clearer pathway to employment or further education—without the financial barriers that can prevent students from pursuing these opportunities.”

During the 2026–2027 academic year, students will participate in the Healthcare Pre-Apprenticeship Program during the fall, followed by Community Health Worker training from January through June. Learning will include classroom and asynchronous instruction, hands-on experiences, field trips, job shadowing, mentorship, and career exploration.

The addition of CHW training introduces students to a growing healthcare profession focused on connecting individuals and families with healthcare and community resources. Students will have the opportunity to gain skills that can be applied directly in the healthcare workforce while exploring additional healthcare career pathways.

NEPA AHEC is partnering with Carbondale Area High School, Century Dental, NEPA Dental Assisting School, Allied Services, The Wright Center for Community Health, Lehigh Valley Health Network, NEPA CHC and others to provide students with career exploration, education, mentorship, and real-world exposure to healthcare professions.

“This program represents more than career exploration,” Youngfelt said. “It is an opportunity to connect students with healthcare careers while strengthening the communities they call home. By investing in students today, we are helping build a stronger local workforce and expanding the pipeline of healthcare professionals who can serve rural and underserved communities.”

NEPA AHEC serves a nine-county region including Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. The organization works to recruit, train, and retain healthcare professionals and provide health education throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on rural and medically underserved communities.

NEPA AHEC extends its sincere appreciation to the Robert H. Spitz Foundation for supporting this investment in students, workforce development, and the future of healthcare in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

For more information about NEPA AHEC and its programs, visit www.nepa-ahec.org.