Copyright cleveland.com
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — A new partnership among four local organizations is giving North Ridgeville high school students a head start on careers in health care — allowing them to earn credentials, gain clinical experience and connect with employers while completing their diplomas. The Ohio Technical Center Plus North Ridgeville Collaborative brings together Lorain County JVS, Lorain County Community College, North Ridgeville City Schools and O’Neill Healthcare, according to a news release. The program’s goal is to prepare students for in-demand health care roles while helping address workforce shortages across Lorain County and Northeast Ohio Team NEO’s 2025 Quarterly Workforce Report highlights persistent labor shortages in health care, manufacturing and skilled trades, according to the release, which highlights the need for new workforce pipelines in growing communities like Lorain County. The new initiative directly responds to that need. Through the program, North Ridgeville High School seniors can earn Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) credentials, First Aid/CPR certification and pre-apprenticeship completion status before graduation. Through the program, students take courses at LCCC’s Ridge Campus in North Ridgeville, which offers access to modern classrooms and labs, according to the release. Lorain County JVS provides the instructor and instruction framework, while O’Neill Healthcare North Ridgeville serves as the clinical site where students gain hands-on training, mentorship and guaranteed interviews for students who complete the program. Educational and industry leaders involved in the partnership say the collaboration demonstrates how workforce development can be strengthened through strategic cooperation. “This partnership is a model for the future of education,” Megan Champagne, principal of Lorain County JVS High School, said in the release. “By combining the instructional excellence of JVS with the infrastructure of LCCC and the real-world experience of O’Neill Healthcare, we’re helping students build futures rooted in purpose and opportunity.” North Ridgeville City Schools officials also praised the program, saying it helps students earn certifications, gain confidence, find clear career direction and provides opportunity and stability for both students and the local health care industry.
