Health Careers for Youth
Since 1997, more than 300 youth have participated in the Health Careers for Youth Program, with demonstrated success in academic performance, workforce readiness, high school completion, and civic engagement. Through partnerships with eight hospitals in Boston's Longwood Medical Area, Sociedad Latina’s Health Careers for Youth program connects youth to paid internships in the heatlhcare field and invaluable opporutnities to build skills, explore careers, achieve academically, and engage in their community.
“It’s the combination of workshops, skills learned working in the hospitals and other Sociedad Latina programs that really influence the development of yourself as a person. They all really help you move forward.”
-Margarita Diaz, HCFY Alumni
Master's in Health Administration, Simmons College
Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
In Boston and nationwide, our healthcare system is in dire need of bilingual and culturally proficient healthcare professionals. Lack of cultural proficiency and adequate language services in healthcare contribute to the stark health disparities we see across racial and ethnic lines in this country. A 2009 survey found Hispanics in Massachusetts are less likely than Whites to visit a physician, but are twice as likely as Whites to visit an emergency department for medical treatment. Latinos lack access to health services due to institutional, personal, informational, cultural, and emotional barriers. Youth Leaders employed through Sociedad Latina in healthcare internships undergo cultural proficiency training, and many of them are bilingual and have a first-hand understanding of cultural issues that come into play in promoting access to healthcare.
The goal of Health Careers for Youth (HCFY) is to provide youth at-risk with educational support and career readiness skills in the growing healthcare industry. A unique blend of training, coursework, and paid internships in the field ensures youth gain the knowledge and skills needed to compete in today’s increasingly competitive job market. As a requirement for employment, youth also cross-enroll in Sociedad Latina's Mission Possible! College Access Program, where they work with staff and College Coaches to stay on track for graduation and prepare for higher education.
For more information on the Health Careers for Youth Program, please contact Lydia Emmons, Workforce Development Coordinator, at 617-442-4299 x121 or lydia@sociedadlatina.org.