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Healthcare Workforce Development
OUSD Oakland Alumni Highway to Work Program
Mission: The Oakland Unified School District Alumni Highway to Work Program serves community college bound or employment-seeking public high school graduates in Oakland, CA. We leveraged strong partnerships, not limited to HealthPATH, Alameda Health System, and the University of California, San Francisco to equip new-graduates to succeed to in high-demand healthcare careers. Our students have found success following participation in our program, employed as Emergency Room Techs, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Practice Coordinators, while others have matriculated into full-time nursing, medical assisting, EMT-B certification programs, and other 2-year programs at local community colleges.
Our program is enabled by grants from the California EDD and the Walter & Elise Haas Fund for stipends and tuition, alongside instructional partnerships with the OUSD Linked Learning Office, Quest Nursing Education, the Bay Area Medical Academy, and the Peralta Community College District. These collaborators provide the formal training and certifications our students need to successfully enter the healthcare workforce.
Leadership: The Highway to Work program was founded in 2022 by Emily Frank, MD FAAP, an Associate Professor and Pediatrician at UCSF and health sciences specialist in the Oakland Unified School District. Dr. Frank established the initiative to address healthcare labor shortages by preparing Oakland high school graduates for entry-level clinical roles. Initially launched as a single Emergency Room Technician track, the program has since expanded into a multi-pathway initiative in collaboration.
In the present, the program is co-managed by Dr. Frank and Monica Linzner, the Highway to Work Manager for OUSD Linked Learning. Linzner directs case management, the program’s curricular development and led the integration of collegiate credit for participants through the Peralta Community College District. The leadership team includes Victor Chan, a senior nursing student at SFSU, serves as the CNA/ER Tech tract Coordinator. He manages clinical requirements and provides direct support to all program interns. Kathleen Bailey, a teacher at Oakland Technical High School, is the program’s EMT Coordinator and oversees administrative systems and logistics. Together, they manage the annual transition of Oakland graduates into local healthcare careers.
At a Glance
Our Programs
→ Highway to Certified Nurse Assistant ('26, '25, '22)
→ Highway to Emergency Medical Technician ('26, '25, '24)
→ Highway to Emergency Room Technician ('26, '25, '24, '23, '22)
→ BAMA Medical Assistant On Ramp ('25)
→ Highway to Practice Coordinator ('24)
We Provide
→ Workforce training & certification
→ High fidelity curriculum & experimental learning
→ Postsecondary and career pathway navigation
→ Wraparound student support services
→ College credit opportunities
Student Reach
→ 36 students in Cohort 4, Summer 2025
→ 15 Oakland high schools represented
→ 100% Identify with an underrepresented racial/ethnic Group Healthcare
→ 5 Years in operation
→ $500,000+ invested
The Challenge
→2,572 Youths (ages 18-24) are out of work in Alameda County
→ 15.6% of Oakland youth lack a high school diploma
→ 42% of Oakland youth speak a language other than English
→ 16% of Oakland children live below the poverty line
Learn More
Who is eligible for the Highway Programs
Who is eligible for the Highway Programs
OUSD high school seniors graduating this school year, and graduates from the prior school year, are eligible to apply. Please see cohort specific restrictions.
Community college or work-seeking graduates encouraged to apply.
What high school is eligible to participate in Highway to Work?
What high school is eligible to participate in Highway to Work?
You must graduate from or be a recent graduate as defined by program specific restrictions (ie. within 1 year), preferably from a Oakland Unified School District high school.
The following list are OUSD high schools eligible to participate in Highway to Work. Updated 1/2/2025. Please check in with your school counselor, work-based learning liaison, or message us via the contact form to review your eligibility.
Castlemont High School
Coliseum College Prep Academy (CCPA)
Fremont High School
Life Academy of Health and Bioscience
Madison Park Business & Art Academy
McClymonds High School
MetWest High School
Oakland High School
Oakland Technical High School
Skyline High School
Oakland International High School
Rudsdale High School (Newcomer & Continuation)
Sojourner Truth Independent Study
Ralph J. Bunche Academy
Which program should I apply too?
Which program should I apply too?
ERT: This tract is ideal for students who want to build rapid clinical decision-making skills, critical thinking, and strong teamwork under a high intensity environment. Students can expect to support 50+ patients working in conjunction with their ER Tech preceptor, healthcare team to support medical emergencies (traumatic injuries, cardiac arrest, stroke, other emergencies). In addition, they will take vitals, assist with wound care, patient transport, specimen collection, EKG, and other task.
CNA: This tract is ideal for students who want to build patient care experience and value deep relationships with patients over time. Students can expect to support 120 residents in a Skilled Nursing Facility working in conjunction with their CNA precetor to support activities of daily living, ambulation, and other needs.
EMT: This tract is ideal for students who want to build rapid clinical decision-making skills, critical thinking, and strong teamwork in fieldwork enviornment. Students can expect to learn the foundations to support medical emergencies, psychiatric emergencies, and other skills to succeed in an EMT-B certification program.
What is the time commitment during the program?
What is the time commitment during the program?
Each program has a different schedule. ERT Program participants can expect 40 hours/week workload. CNA Program participants can expect 40 hours/week workload. EMT Program participants can expect 20 hours/week workload.
Do I have to have to an OUSD student to participate?
Do I have to have to an OUSD student to participate?
Yes.
Can I apply if i'm not 18 yet?
Can I apply if i'm not 18 yet?
Yes.
I plan to go to college in the Fall. Can I still participate in OAHtW?
I plan to go to college in the Fall. Can I still participate in OAHtW?
Maybe. Our programs seek individuals who can work full time (40 hours per week) for atleast a year following completion of one the pathways. Part time college (1-2 classes) may be sustainable, but a full-time course load would be challenging with a full-time job.
Does the Highway to Work Program guarantee a job?
Does the Highway to Work Program guarantee a job?
No. The Highway to Work Program is designed to give you an competitive edge in the application process by providing networking opportunites, training, and certification.
Is there a vaccination requirement?
Is there a vaccination requirement?
Yes. Many of our programs require vacccination.
Generally, the requirements include annual influenza, annual COVID, MMR, VZV, and Hepatitis B.
Do I need a work permit to participate in the program?
Do I need a work permit to participate in the program?
ERT: Work authorization required. A SSN, US Citizenship, or Green Card fulfills this mandate.
CNA: Work authorization required. A SSN, US Citizenship, Green Card or ITIN number fulfills this mandate.
EMT: Work authorization required. A SSN, US Citizenship, or Green Card fulfills this mandate.
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