Harnett County serves as a training ground for students pursuing healthcare careers, offering a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities. Central to this effort are Harnett County Schools' Career & Technical Education (HCS CTE) Program, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC)  and Campbell University, each providing comprehensive programs and real-world training to equip students for successful careers in healthcare. Through these programs and strong industry and community partnerships, students gain the knowledge, skills, and certifications needed to meet the evolving healthcare demands of Harnett County and beyond.

Building on this foundation, the HCS CTE Program is taking a bold step forward in expanding healthcare career awareness, thanks to the PRC 253 Health Careers Promotion Grant announced on April 15, 2024. Supported by the North Carolina General Assembly, this initiative provides funding for public school units (PSU) to develop comprehensive promotional plans that highlight career pathways in healthcare.

HCS CTE was awarded $18,000 through this grant, with funds available until expended. The first phase of the grant-funded promotion plan focuses on video marketing as a strategic effort to educate students, families, community members and stakeholders about the existing pathway alignment within Harnett County Schools that supports the health sciences sector. While discussions about career pathways are common in educational and governmental settings, they are not always effectively communicated within our communities. This project aims to change that in Harnett County.

As soon as Lindsey Hardee, Director of Career & Technical Education for Harnett County Schools, reviewed the application requirements for the Health Careers Promotion Grant, she knew that Harnett County’s PSU was a strong candidate for funding. 

“With the County’s population steadily growing, the demand for healthcare professionals is expected to rise,” said Hardee in a press release. She added that the ten-year projection data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s dashboard highlighted this need, emphasizing the importance of using data-driven insights to shape CTE program planning.
Hardee is very familiar with exploring and applying this actionable data, as she regularly uses it in her role planning Harnett County Schools' CTE Program.
According to Hardee, the Health Science Cluster is currently the third-largest within HCS CTE in terms of CTE Concentrators. A CTE Concentrator is a student who has successfully completed at least two CTE courses within a single career pathway during high school, including a concentrator-level course (typically a level two course). Additionally, students graduate with industry-recognized credentials such as First Aid, CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, Pharmacy Technician Certification, and NC Nurse Aide 1 (CNA1) – all at little to no cost.
Harnett County’s High School Health Science instructors come from the healthcare industry, many of whom are also practicing Registered Nurses, bringing invaluable industry experience. Their expertise guarantees that students receive practical, real-world instruction that effectively prepares them for future careers in healthcare..

To further support health sciences education, Harnett County Schools recently added four state-of-the-art Health Careers labs at each of its comprehensive high schools. These labs feature modules specifically designed to align with high school CTE Health Science courses, CCCC’s programs of study, and Campbell University’s degree and advanced degree programs.
Bringing the Vision to Life Through Video Marketing
A key element of the grant-funded project was creating a compelling video series to highlight local healthcare career pathways and partnerships. Hardee worked with local creative, Jacob Stickland of Grunt Media Solutions, where her vision for the series was brought to life. 
“From the very beginning, I appreciated Jake for his unique production skills and organic storytelling evidenced in all of his prior work,” shared Hardee in a press release. “I wanted our school system and our wonderful partners - CCCC, Campbell University, and Harnett County - to be able to share with the public the longstanding partnerships we have in the County, particularly in the healthcare sector.”  
This Health Careers Promotion Grant Project video series showcases the journey of career exploration in Harnett County, from early exposure in elementary school to advanced healthcare training in high school and beyond.
Together, these videos demonstrate how CTE equips students with the skills and opportunities to thrive in the evolving healthcare industry.
Empowering Career Exploration and Growth
For Hardee, one of the most impactful segments of the video project was the feature on a local veteran sharing his career evolution. “In an era where technology is rapidly transforming industries, more individuals are pivoting in their careers - sometimes multiple times throughout their lives,” said Hardee. “Transferable skills gained through CTE programs provide the flexibility and foundation for individuals to adapt and succeed in any career field,” she added.
Equally important to this initiative is ensuring that students understand it is okay not to have a clear career path immediately. Programs like CTE and dual enrollment exist to help students explore various options and find the path that best suits their aspirations and abilities. By providing access to quality education, real-world experiences, and industry credentials, CTE Programs are equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in a dynamic workforce.

"On behalf of HCS CTE, we extend our sincere gratitude to the NC General Assembly for making PRC 253 possible,” said Hardee in a press release. “This funding has allowed us to share the story of the incredible healthcare career opportunities available right here in Harnett County. We also want to thank our partners, educators, and all those featured in the videos for their contributions to this initiative.”

CTE and Economic Development

Harnett County is experiencing significant growth, with demand for healthcare expected to rise. 
According to harnett County economic Development, the County’s population has increased by more than 24% over the past 15 years. According to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, Harnett County is projected to have sufficient population by 2030 to be reclassified from a rural to a regional center/suburban county.

“K-12 and post-secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs directly correlate with current and future talent needs of local industry - it's a supply and demand relationship," said Stephen Barrington, Harnett County’s Economic Development Director in a press release. “Education and training are key to economic development successes and while speaking to the healthcare industry and occupation trends for this video series, any industry sector would benefit from aligned CTE programs. We are grateful to be part of an ecosystem that provides in-demand CTE programs,” Barrington added.
 

Editor’s note: This story has been condensed down from a public posting made by Harnett County Economic Development. Access the full post with links on their website here.