Pathways to Impact

October 14, 2025

Inspiring the Next Generation of Health and Human Services Professionals

Homeward Bound Inc.’s Human Resources Team presented “Pathways to Impact: Connecting High School Students with Careers in Health and Human Services” at the 43rd Annual St. Louis County Health and Human Services Conference.

Serena Emerfoll, Vice President of Human Resources (Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota), and Dillanger DeGross, HR Specialist II (Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Development, University of Minnesota), shared Homeward Bound Inc.’s key learnings from the field with health and human services professionals during this engaging session.

The workshop equipped organizational leaders and HR professionals with practical strategies for developing one-time, short-term, and long-term programs that engage and attract high school students to careers in the health and human services industry.

Attendees learned how to design impactful internship experiences, build partnerships with schools and community organizations, and create clear pathways that inspire students to pursue meaningful, long-term careers in the field. The presentation also offered actionable insights on guiding students through the hiring process, fostering professional development, and nurturing a diverse, future-ready talent pipeline.

Employers left the session with concrete tools and ideas to cultivate the next generation of health and human service professionals — ensuring a stronger, more connected workforce for years to come.

Learn more about our work and current openings at www.hbimn.org.

To learn more about how Homeward Bound, Inc. is helping students explore careers in human services, check out our recent internship highlights:

People, Purpose, Prep
Interns Take on HR

43rd Annual St. Louis County Health and Human Services Conference Booklet