CHAMPS was first implemented in 1995 in three rural communities in south Arkansas (Crossett, McGehee, and Warren). The one-week program is intended for junior high students, providing hands-on experiences in health careers, health education, and community service.

Through a variety of experiences, students interact with health care experts, such as physicians, nurses, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, radiologic technologists, physical therapists, pharmacists, etc. Exposure to different areas of medicine and other health-related professions is an integral part of the CHAMPS experience. Students learn to identify some of the various healthcare disciplines, see what they do, how they relate to one another, and discover how the fundamentals of biology, anatomy, and other sciences are used in “real life” practice. Other activities offered during the one-week day program include training in basic CPR and First Aid, healthy lifestyle presentations, and a community service project.

This program is for students entering grades 8, 9, and 10. To participate in a CHAMPS program, students must demonstrate above average scholastic ability as reported by school transcripts. Additional selection criteria is based on the recommendations of science or health teachers or school counselor, the application prepared by the student, and evaluation by the CHAMPS Selection Committee in that community.