TriDistrict Healthcare Finds Student-Centered Solutions to Public Health Concern

South St. Paul High School students and others in the TriDistrict CAPS Healthcare Careers program recently conducted research aimed at improving student attendance and presented their findings and recommendations to Dakota County Public Health. This project was inspired by the ISD 197 Student Health Advisory Committee, which identified chronic absenteeism (students missing 10% or more of the school year) as a public health concern. In September, students in the program began learning how to create solutions based on user experiences and needs, rather than just their own, to address this important issue.

Using Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), an innovative approach to community and youth development, the students conducted in-depth research to better understand the problem. They engaged with their peers, school administrators, teachers, and public health professionals, while also reviewing studies and published research.

The students worked in groups to propose solutions such as "flipped" and "thinking" classrooms to increase student engagement, improvements in sleep, mental health day options, transportation solutions, and more. They presented their findings, supported by the research they had gathered, and recommended action steps to Dakota County Public Health. During the presentations, public health officials, school administrators, and district leaders had the chance to ask questions and engage further with each group about their research and recommendations.

The TriDistrict CAPS Healthcare program is just one of several immersive career exploration classes available to juniors and seniors at South St. Paul High School, Simley High School, and Two Rivers High School. These classes provide students with valuable career experiences, and they also earn high school credits while working alongside local professionals. In addition to Healthcare, TriDistrict CAPS offers courses in Business and Entrepreneurship, Information Technology and Computer Science, and Transportation and Skilled Trades.

South St. Paul students who will be juniors and seniors in 2025-26 who are interested in enrolling in TriDistrict CAPS are encouraged to speak with their counselors for more information. To learn more about TriDistrict CAPS or explore partnership opportunities for training the next generation of professionals, organizations can visit careercollegeready.org/employers or contact TriDistrict CAPS Program Director, Ben Kusch, at KuschB@tridistrictce.org.