Promote health in 100 teens in Portland, Oregon

MIKE served over 150 vulnerable youth this Fall through our Mentored Health Education and Healthcare Career Exploration programming.

The near-age mentors worked with their mentees each week on topics such as:

- Stress and Anxiety
- Healthcare Careers
- Disinformation and Misinformation in Health
- Vaccines and Public Health
- Nutrition
- Physical Activity

We have been weaving mental health content and resources into all of this programming, as survey results from the youth in our programming consistently showed that "mental health" was their top health concern.

The impact of programming has extended beyond just the youth who participate. The volunteer mentors gain so much from their experiences as they prepare to enter the healthcare field themselves. 

There is no other program like MIKE that provides our volunteer mentors the opportunity to engage with the community, practice their communication skills, and become better prepared to successfully enter the healthcare field. MIKE incorporates feedback from the mentors to make real-time adjustments to programming. 

Statement from current MIKE Mentor, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-NW; MIKE Mentor for two years at Sweet Home High School:
For two years I was able to interact with Sweet Home high schoolers every week on zoom with the MIKE program. Though it was online during my time with the program, it was still so incredibly impactful for me. I absolutely loved taking a break from studying and lectures to spend an hour with students who are so energetic with such great perspectives. Not only was I giving advice and sharing some wisdom, but I learned so much from the students themselves. Interacting with younger students really makes me realize how much stress and anxiety we carry as adults that younger generations don’t focus on. Every week, I could spend a whole hour with students discussing our different schools, foods, sports, video games, and their hopes and dreams. Being able to listen to their stories in a safe environment really brought out the trust and communication among the mentors and students. When we were finally able to meet in person in May, I felt we already knew each other which was so much fun. I will miss working with the MIKE program and Ms. S., but most of all, I will miss interacting with the Sweet Home students. I am so appreciative of having this opportunity and will always carry it close to my heart. 

Teachers, schools, and the community as a whole also see MIKE's programming as an invaluable resource.

During the spring semester of 2023, MIKE delivered impactful programming to youth in the area of healthcare career exploration. In some of our current sites, we expanded programming to include an increased focus in this area. We accomplished this by bringing in weekly guest speakers who shared their experiences across a wide swath of the healthcare industry. Speakers represented careers in social work, mental health counseling, nursing, medicine, surgery, healthcare administration, pharmacy, radiology, dental, and many more. The guest speakers also regularly represented the same communities and shared lived experiences with the youth in our programming.

Some sites launched new programming with a specific focus on healthcare career exploration. Examples of these partnerships also include some work outside of academic settings, in a low-income housing complex in Washington County.

Recent survey data and quotes:

When asked if they are more interested in pursuing a career in healthcare after graduation based on their experience with MIKE:

- 50% of students responded "yes"

- Another 23% responded that are slightly more likely to continue to pursue educational opportunities to further explore these career options. 

What would you like to share with your mentors about your experience with MIKE?

Student Responses:

• I think it was a lovely experience and I hope that students in the future can experience this.
• I loved being able to experience different sides of medicine. Plus I can now tell people I have seen a real dead body!!
• I had a really good time and not only was the experience educational but also super interesting and got me excited about the medical field which I didn't pay attention to that much.
• It would be a great experience for students who want to learn in the med field or just to understand what they would go through to earn that position.
• Even though we were quiet sometimes, I would like the MIKE Mentors to know that I always had fun listening and working with you guys. I think being with people in medical school and seeing how hard you guys work but how you still seem to be enjoying medical school made me confident enough to decide that I wanted to go too.