Posted on Jan 1, 2023
Short on community health workers, a county trains teens as youth ambassadors
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/01/ [login to see] /short-on-community-health-workers-a-county-trains-teens-as-youth-ambassadors
Of all the things she could have done on her summer vacation, Bithaniya Fieseha, a senior at West Springfield High School in Fairfax County, Va., decided to study chronic disease, mental health and contact tracing. Some of her friends didn't understand the appeal.
"I feel like people are like, 'You wasted your summer,' " she says. "But I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed meeting up with everyone, going through the struggle."
She practiced taking temperatures, weight and blood pressure readings on her family. Fieseha topped it off with an internship at a local health clinic.
Her hard work paid off. On a recent Saturday morning, Fieseha became one of 14 high school students to graduate from the Youth Public Health Ambassador program run by the Fairfax County Health Department. It trains teenagers from underserved communities to become health workers and prepares them for potential careers in public health. The coursework was designed by the Morehouse School of Medicine.
"I think this program gives us a voice because, as minorities, we're able to see those disparities" in our own surroundings, says Nayla Bonilla, a junior at Justice High School, "I saw that there were so many different avenues into medicine and things we can do in the future that can help our communities thrive."
Of all the things she could have done on her summer vacation, Bithaniya Fieseha, a senior at West Springfield High School in Fairfax County, Va., decided to study chronic disease, mental health and contact tracing. Some of her friends didn't understand the appeal.
"I feel like people are like, 'You wasted your summer,' " she says. "But I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed meeting up with everyone, going through the struggle."
She practiced taking temperatures, weight and blood pressure readings on her family. Fieseha topped it off with an internship at a local health clinic.
Her hard work paid off. On a recent Saturday morning, Fieseha became one of 14 high school students to graduate from the Youth Public Health Ambassador program run by the Fairfax County Health Department. It trains teenagers from underserved communities to become health workers and prepares them for potential careers in public health. The coursework was designed by the Morehouse School of Medicine.
"I think this program gives us a voice because, as minorities, we're able to see those disparities" in our own surroundings, says Nayla Bonilla, a junior at Justice High School, "I saw that there were so many different avenues into medicine and things we can do in the future that can help our communities thrive."
Short on community health workers, a county trains teens as youth ambassadors
Posted from npr.org
Springfield
Health
Medical
Schools
Healthcare
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The hope is that projects, like Fairfax County's Youth Ambassador training, can be adapted elsewhere. "For those who are looking at whether people are able to trust, sustain the trust, engage others, this is more than successful," Holliday Moore says, "And it's not hard to replicate."
Holliday Moore addresses a small crowd of parents and students gathered at a high school library for a graduation ceremony. "Do not give up, stay the course," she says. "You are creating a future here."
Afterward, there is applause and tears of joy. A Peruvian dance champion performs a traditional dance. An assistant principal sings a line from Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and assures students he isn't worried about a thing — with them at the helm.
After some long, bleak pandemic years, everyone in the room is glad to be celebrating teens getting their start in public health."
..."The hope is that projects, like Fairfax County's Youth Ambassador training, can be adapted elsewhere. "For those who are looking at whether people are able to trust, sustain the trust, engage others, this is more than successful," Holliday Moore says, "And it's not hard to replicate."
Holliday Moore addresses a small crowd of parents and students gathered at a high school library for a graduation ceremony. "Do not give up, stay the course," she says. "You are creating a future here."
Afterward, there is applause and tears of joy. A Peruvian dance champion performs a traditional dance. An assistant principal sings a line from Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and assures students he isn't worried about a thing — with them at the helm.
After some long, bleak pandemic years, everyone in the room is glad to be celebrating teens getting their start in public health."
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Community health care workers are scarce in many areas. This is a good program to help students find a career and help the community.
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