Clark State partners with northwest Ohio college to provide contact tracer training

Clark State Community College wants to raise its tuition. Katherine Collins/Staff

Clark State College. STAFF

Clark State College has partnered with Terra State Community College to provide and extend contact tracer training in northwest Ohio, according to a release from the school.

Clark State provides an online, non-credit contact tracer training and is extending the program to non-credit students at Terra State.

“Clark State is extremely proud of being one of the first institutions in the nation to deploy contact tracer training in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are equally proud and excited to now be partnering with our Terra State colleagues to efficiently provide this same training to their service region,” said Lesli Beavers, director of workforce and business solutions.

Students in the training will learn proper protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for contact tracing of the coronavirus.

“Clark State created this training in direct response to the State of Ohio’s need for quick, professional and trained contact tracers. Partnering with other institutions helps us continue this work to serve students, health departments and businesses throughout the state,” Beavers said.

The self-paced course will be offered to Terra State students via the Kern Center for Workforce and Community Education, but will be administered and taught by Clark State faculty and staff.

“Contact tracing training is another example of how Terra State continues to support efforts to stop the spread,” said Bill Taylor, vice president of academic affairs at Terra State. “The contact tracing training is a great example of how micro-credentials bring an opportunity to up-skill, while also meeting the challenge of a national skills gap.”

Beavers said Clark State has trained over 100 students in this program, which started in May of 2020, to help local health districts in response to COVID-19 and have expanded the program by partnering with other community colleges.

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