Wednesday, February 1
Putting History to Work for Our Youth
For nearly four decades, the history and contributions of African Americans has been observed during the month of February. This annual custom, along with the commemorations of other ethnic, racial, and cultural groups, illuminates this country’s diversity and the role of all citizens in what is judged to make America great.
Proponents of history months view the tradition as an opportunity to remind some and educate others of the past. This practice is thought to be particularly important for our nation’s youth.
An aphorism I frequently heard during my adolescence was, “In order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.” There are variations of this expression, each emphasizing the importance of viewing self within the context of one’s individual and collective history, and being knowledgeable of the intersect between the past and present.
For some, lacking contextual insight may have no consequences. For others, however, the adverse affect on performance may be noteworthy. This article focuses on how one institution’s understanding of the impact of history on goal attainment led to the formation of a successful program for adolescents.
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center in Chicago has a legacy as a medical facility that reaches beyond the boundaries of its campus to address the health and social needs of its neighboring community. One notable community service offered by Mercy is the program Health Professions for the Future (HPF).
The HPF program originated twenty years ago. Thoughtful administrators saw the need for children of low-income families to acquire meaningful work experiences. In turn, the hospital offered summer job opportunities for those residing in the public housing developments. Since that time, this innovative endeavor has evolved into a successful summer and year-round internship program for youth desiring careers in the medical profession.
Given the social and academic struggles many urban youth encounter, Mercy has decided to focus its attention on students of average academic abilities. Primary criterions for inclusion in the program are teens that are willing to work, are eager to learn, and determined to succeed.
In collaboration with area high schools, the interns gain awareness of the opportunities in the allied health fields, and receiving preparation for degree or certification programs. Over the course of the internship, students are able to bridge what is taught in the classroom with the work world through shadowing and in-service training.
Sponsoring this program is consistent with the hospital’s vision to be “lifetime community partners” and to “help shape the future of health care.” In addition to being mindful of local social needs, the program’s founders were cognizant of an important challenge confronting the healthcare community—expanding consumer needs for medical care paralleled by an increasing shortage of medical professionals.
Eighty-million baby-boomers are reaching retirement age. As this population ages, the need for medical services will increase. To meet the current and future demand for services, a greater focus is on the next generation of workforce professionals—today’s youth.
Unfortunately many teens are not adequately prepared to enter the work environment. Fewer teens are working today than at any point since World War II. Teen unemployment is disproportionally significant among minority youth, and the decline in employment numbers has sharply accelerated in the past seven years. Consequently, young people are restricted in their ability to acquire good work habits and necessary information to make informed educational and career choices.
As a result, Mercy’s HPF program conducts seminars on employability skills such as punctuality, professionalism, conflict management, and communication. On occasion it is necessary to engage parental support in the learning process to address behaviors that seem to have become commonplace in the views of the child and parent.
The program would be amiss if it overlooked the psychosocial support needs of young people. Some students in the program are confronting daily obstacles that can impede motivation or attainment of personal goals. These impediments include insufficient family support and/or peer-related problems. Group meetings are conducted to address the social ills students confront in their communities.
As indicated, viewing youth within the context of their experiences requires the program managers and staff members to develop approaches that extend beyond providing students with clinical experiences. Each adult frequently finds themselves also functioning as mentors.
The program’s success is largely attributed to the guidance and support provided by staff in the form of mentoring. Most are comfortable in this role. Staff members have expressed a desire to give back. Many reflect on the period of their youth and history, noting the benefits that could have been gain if they’d had a mentor during their teenage years.
HPF students do not hesitate to express their appreciation and note the positive influences their mentors have on motivating them to achieve:
“I would like to thank you for allowing me to have such an amazing learning experience. You gave me a chance to expand my horizon and to learn more than what is in books. Also, to meet people who care about your future. People who give you advice about your future. You gave what feels to me a chance of a lifetime, and for that I thank you very much.” - T. D., Intern
“Words cannot express the gratitude I feel. This experience has been exceptional. I was given opportunities to witness and do various things that I never thought would be possible for someone my age. The people I was introduced to were amazing. They were always willing to help and teach me. They also helped with my transition. Having come to Mercy a shy person, now I am able to speak to everyone I know . . . My internship at Mercy has surpassed my expectations.” - S. W., Intern
The significance of mentoring cannot be overemphasized. Former President Bill Clinton once stated, “People who grew up in difficult circumstances and yet are successful have one thing in common . . . at a critical junction in their early adolescence they had a positive relationship with a caring adult.”
On January 3, 2012, President Obama issued a proclamation designating January as National Mentoring Month. He is a strong advocate of adults volunteering their time and sharing their talents to benefit others. “There’s no doubt about the value of mentoring. And there is no doubt about the tremendous need for mentors in this country . . . Ask any successful person how they got to where they are today, chances are they’ll tell you about a mentor they had somewhere along the way.”
“The youth are our future,” is a common phrase frequently stated by educators, lawmakers, and others when speaking about the needs of young people, or their role in addressing the nation’s problems. As we reflect this month on the contributions of African Americans to this country, let us not only look backward to appreciate the road traveled, but also forward to determine the best path for the future of our youth.
Kenneth M. Horace, LCSW, is a clinical social worker at Mercy Hospital in Chicago where he provides behavioral health services to youth and families. He also manages the hospital’s internship program, Health Professions for the Future, which offers medical training to high school students aspiring careers in healthcare. Mr. Horace is a member of the Chicago Public Schools’ Medical & Health Career Advisory Board, and the UIC-Jane Addams College of Social Work Alumni Board.
