CLC receives grants, gifts for health care career students and counseling services

The College of Lake County will offer at least 34 scholarships for students in health care career fields this fall while adding a staff member in CLC's Counseling and Psychological Services department, thanks to two grants from the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County and a relationship with Cancer Treatment Centers of America.®

A $75,000 grant is designed to help current or prospective students planning to enroll in a health care career certificate or degree program in the 2019-20 academic year. Known as the Scholarships Promoting Lake County Affordable and Sustainable Healthcare, or SPLASH, the funding covers the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Semesters. With an application deadline of Sept. 6, each scholarship pays for a maximum of 12 credits of tuition per semester, including comprehensive fees. Additionally, the monies cover a limited number of stipends for books and transportation.

Applicants must be CLC students working on prerequisites for their health care major or already in a CLC health care program. Eligible programs are medical imaging, nursing, certified nurse assistant, phlebotomy, dental hygiene, medical assisting, massage therapy, health and wellness promotion, health information technology and surgical technology. Students also must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Though the scholarship is available for the full academic year, December 2019 graduates are eligible.

Scholarship recipients must remain enrolled at least part-time and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher each semester. They also will be able to participate in monthly SPLASH activities that include mentoring, career workshops and field trips to health-related universities and government agencies.

Besides SPLASH, there will be additional scholarships available for the health care career program, thanks to a valued relationship with the Cancer Treatment Center of America.®

The scholarship was established in 2018 with a gift of $50,000, with an additional $50,000 donated in 2019. Awards will provide $5,000 per student, per year beginning in fall 2019. Funds can be used for tuition and fees, books and course-required materials, and enrollment can be part time or

full- time. Including sponsorship of CLC's 50th Anniversary, the total support in 2019 from Cancer Treatment Centers of America is $100,000.

"With a vision towards the continued success of developing, training and hiring top- quality health care professionals here in Lake County, CTCA is proud to play an active role in supporting the future of health care," said Pete Govorchin, President and CEO, Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) Chicago. Application requirements, eligible career programs and deadlines are the same for the SPLASH program.

"Without the generosity of the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County and Cancer Treatment Centers of America, many students could not attend the College of Lake County," said Maureen Robinson, interim dean of CLC's Biological and Health Sciences division.

"The Foundation's mission is to support efforts that improve access to health services for underserved Lake County residents. Former recipients continue to be grateful for the financial, academic and professional support they received as participants of CLC scholarship programs."

Applications are available on the Grayslake Campus in the Biological and Health Sciences division office in B213 or the Financial Aid office, which is part of the Welcome and One Stop Center. For details, call the Biological and Health Sciences division office at (847) 543-2042.

In addition, the college received a $65,000 grant from HFNLC to hire and train a staff clinician in CLC's new Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department. In January 2018, CAPS began offering psychological services to CLC students and consultative as well as outreach services to the entire campus, said Sue Stock, dean of Counseling, Advising and Transfer. "The grant allows CAPS to add staff and increase the amount and types of services provided," she said. "The new staff therapist will provide individual, couples and group therapy services to CLC students. For the campus community, the person will offer presentations on suicide prevention, stress management, mindful meditation and healthy relationships while also offering group and individual consultation. For example, a CAPS therapist can offer advice for a faculty member who is concerned about a student but is not sure how to intervene."

Mental health issues for college students are a nationwide concern, and even more so at community colleges, Stock added. "Recent research indicates that community college students are more stressed, have less social support and less access to mental health services compared to their same-aged peers at four-year institutions," she said. "We are delighted that the HFNLC grant will allow us to further extend psychological services to our students and our CLC community."

For details on the college's CAPS department, visit www.clcillinois.edu/caps.

To apply for the scholarships, review eligible programs, student requirements, terms and more, visit http://www.clcillinois.edu/scholarships.

Fall classes began Aug. 19, but many flexible-starting classes are still available. For information about courses and how to apply and enroll, visit www.clcillinois.edu/features/late-starting-classes.

About the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County:

The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County supports efforts that improve access to health services for underserved Lake County, Illinois, residents. The organization strives to improve the health status of uninsured, underinsured and medically underserved residents. The HFNLC is especially interested in addressing gaps in health services; increasing the capacity of effective organizations and programs; and fostering innovative solutions to persistent health care access problems. For more information on the HFNLC, visit www.hfnlc.org https://www.facebook.com/HFNLC.

About College of Lake County:

College of Lake County is an innovative community college in Lake County, Ill. that transforms lives with its variety of accessible, quality education options. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, College of Lake County provides affordable options in a state-of-the-art setting close to home. A large student network, with small class sizes, \provides advantages to our students on a career-related program or a path toward a transfer degree. We're proud to serve the diverse needs of our community and student body. Connect to your future today at College of Lake County. For details, visit www.clcillinois.edu