This spring, New Haven high school students completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program hosted on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. The program, part of an ongoing partnership between Southern and New Haven Public Schools, gives students the opportunity to complete the coursework and clinical hours required to take the CNA certification exam.
“We started programming with Southern last spring,” said Dina Natalino, supervisor of college and career pathways for New Haven Public Schools. “This is now our third round with Southern, and this partnership allows our students to get the coursework necessary to take the CNA certification exam.”
The course met twice a week, including Saturdays, and is part of the district’s broader Career Connected Pathways initiative, which provides college-level courses and industry-recognized credentials to students interested in healthcare careers. According to Natalino, the district currently offers six in-school sections across three high schools, with an estimated 150 students enrolled.
“We had close to 100 students that completed the CNA course between our spring and summer session at Southern last year,” Natalino added. “The strong student interest has allowed us to expand the program further.”
The program will continue into the summer through Excel Academy, with 15 additional students enrolled.
Read more in the New Haven Register: New Haven schools expand career pathways with certified nursing courses with Southern.
