Media Advisory: Nursing education initiative to combat infant mortality in Franklin County

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University College of Nursing will train dozens of new community health workers under a new funding plan. Details of the plan will be announced at a news conference at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, in the lobby of Newton Hall (Ohio State College of Nursing), 1585 Neil Avenue.

Community health workers deliver public health services to the community. The College of Nursing offers a 12-week community health workers certificate program that provides workforce training for residents of high-poverty communities to prepare them for roles as community health workers.

Franklin County will take over some of the funding for three cohorts of trainees, totaling 78 newly trained community health workers. In collaboration with CelebrateOne, many workers will then be hired to help combat the area’s poor infant mortality rate.

Speakers will include Ohio State President Michael V. Drake, College of Nursing Dean and Ohio State Chief Wellness Officer Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk and Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown. In addition, two College of Nursing instructors affiliated with the program will be available.

WHO: President Michael V. Drake, Dean Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk and Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown

WHAT: Announcement of a partnership between Franklin County and Ohio State to train community health workers

WHEN: News conference begins at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28

WHERE: Newton Hall lobby, 1585 Neil Avenue

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Contact: Chelsea Schmitz, College of Nursing, Schmitz.173@osu.edu