Youth Empowerment in Health Care Mentorship Program

Background: Providing students with resources and knowledge about health care occupations and preparation for a professional role will have a long-term effect on their career path and the public health of their communities. Objective: The purpose of this project was to determine if a four-phase educational session would affect the knowledge of high school students to choose a health care-related career. Methods: Nursing models were incorporated to support the evidence-based practice, theoretical framework, and biblical framework. Implementation of this project occurred in an urban inner-city high school located in Texas. Consent forms were distributed to the classroom teacher 1 month before the project implementation. Both the parents and the students required signatures. All participants completed the questionnaires electronically. Subsequently, the project was approved by the Colorado Christian University Internal Review Board, informed consents were signed prior to participation, and agenda items were provided to students and school administrators before implementation. Educational information was disseminated to students using a PowerPoint presentation created by the project manager which served as a guide for the classroom sessions. Results: The findings of the educational sessions provided support that the students did gain knowledge. Conclusion: The sessions impacted their decision to pursue a health care-related field after graduation.