MULTICULTURAL INTEGRATED KIDNEY EDUCATION PROGRAM

IN ADDITION TO OUR MENTORED HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, MIKE DELIVERS A HEALTHCARE CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS YOUTH CONNECT WHAT THEY LEARN IN MIKE'S CURRICULUM TO REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD. THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO A BROAD RANGE OF HEALTHCARE CAREERS, BUILDS AWARENESS OF LOCAL WORKFORCE NEEDS, AND ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO ENVISION THEMSELVES IN FUTURE HEALTH-RELATED PROFESSIONS THAT STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O...) THIS ELEMENT OF MIKE'S PROGRAMMING HAS EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS BUT WAS DEEPENED AND EXPANDED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR THROUGH THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK. THIS INITIATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CONNECT MIKE YOUTH WITH REAL-WORLD CAREER EXPERIENCES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS. THE NETWORK CREATES TANGIBLE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CLASSROOM LEARNING AND LOCAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, HELPING TO BUILD A MORE DIVERSE AND COMMUNITY-ROOTED HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK HOSTED MULTIPLE EVENTS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHERE SOME STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO TAKE TANGIBLE STEPS TOWARD FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF NETWORK MEMBERS SUCH AS ENROLLING IN LOCAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR PURSUING WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.A KEY FEATURE OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE EXPOSURE YOUTH RECEIVE TO NEAR-AGE MENTORS MOST OFTEN COLLEGE STUDENTS PURSUING HEALTH-RELATED DEGREES. THROUGH THESE MENTOR RELATIONSHIPS, MIKE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT FIELDS OF STUDY, WHAT INSPIRED THEIR MENTORS TO CHOOSE THEIR PATHS, AND WHAT LOCAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IF THEY DECIDE TO FOLLOW SIMILAR TRACKS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. IMPORTANTLY, STUDENTS ALSO DISCOVER THAT THEIR MENTORS' JOURNEYS WERE NOT ALWAYS STRAIGHTFORWARD; THEY SEE FIRSTHAND THAT PERSISTENCE, CURIOSITY, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFTEN PLAY AS MUCH A ROLE IN SUCCESS AS ACADEMICS.ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT IS THE HANDS-ON CAREER ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTED AT EACH PROGRAMMING SITE. THIS POPULAR ACTIVITY ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN INTERACTIVE SIMULATIONS SUCH AS TAKING VITAL SIGNS, EXPLORING MEDICAL TOOLS, OR ROLE-PLAYING DIFFERENT HEALTHCARE ROLES HELPING THEM CONNECT CLASSROOM LESSONS WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN A FUN, ACCESSIBLE WAY.EVALUATION DATA FROM THIS PAST YEAR SHOW A 70% INCREASE IN YOUTH INTEREST IN HEALTHCARE CAREERS AFTER PARTICIPATING IN MIKE'S PROGRAMS, DEMONSTRATING THE LASTING IMPACT OF THIS WORK IN SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTH LEADERS.