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 Funding administered from an Illinois Community
College Board (ICCB) Innovative Bridge and Transition grant will
expand programming in the Heartland Academy for Learning
Opportunities (HALO) program.
The HALO program offers a higher education experience for students
18-28 with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and other
learning challenges. The program connects students with academic,
social/recreational, and soft skills necessary for a successful
transition to adulthood.
“With this funding, we will create and implement additional
curriculum to support students participating in our HALO program,”
said Kori Folkerts, Heartland Associate Director of Student Access &
Accommodation Services. “Our goal is to double the number of
students who participate in the program, and add a third year and a
second-level credential.”
Through opportunity, support, and access, HALO
students develop increased confidence to function independently on
campus and in the community.
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Students gain confidence in many
skill areas, including cooking, managing money, reading for
life, computer technology, social development, community
awareness, health and wellness, independent living, and math for
life.
Supported by the $212,728 grant, four additional courses will be
added to the HALO program: Transition to College/Basic Skills,
Success Education, Professionalism/Career Preparation, and
Social-Emotional Development. The project supports students in
the HALO population to have skills when transitioning into the
workforce or into credit courses at the college level.
The grant will also allow Heartland to add experiential learning
opportunities and peer mentors for the students, as well as
training for HCC staff.
For more information about HALO and the program’s application
process, please visit
http://www.heartland.edu/halo.
[Steve Fast
Assistant to the President, Public Information and Communication
Heartland Community College] |
