INTRODUCTION
The FACES for the Future South Alameda County Program is a partnership between Alameda Unified School District and Alameda Hospital (Alameda Health System). The program officially launched in Fall 2016 in partnership with the FACES for the Future Coalition. The FACES South Alameda County program provides a multi-year healthcare internship and leadership development program for AUSD students. The program will support entry into healthcare professions through internships, workshops, academic support, college preparation and wellness support.
PROGRAM
Health Careers Exploration
- Clinical and non-clinical rotations with local healthcare and community-based agencies.
- Exposure to one-on-one relationships with Internship Supervisors who provide support, guidance and hands-on training.
- Interactive Workshops and Field Trips designed to further immerse students in the health professions.
- Interaction with health professionals who regularly present during classroom workshops to enhance healthcare preparatory curricula.
Academic Support and Enrichment
- Health careers preparatory curriculum, covering topics such as HIPAA, ethics and confidentiality, safety, and professionalism.
- Individualized academic and career support to high school students via one-on-one advising and tutoring.
- College pathways support in helping search for college, apply and receive financial aid.
Wellness Support and Psycho-Social Intervention
- A Psychosocial Program focusing on counseling and education.
- Ongoing case management, psycho-social referrals to appropriate services when appropriate.
- Individualized Life Coaching and academic plans.
- Strong commitment to engaging parents and families in all aspects of the FACES program via parent meetings and phone conferences.
Youth Leadership Development
- Regular personal growth workshops focused on experiential learning about self-advocacy, assertive communication, healthy and unhealthy relationships, stress management, and other relevant topics.
- Team building activities and support experiences.
- Working with and supporting youth to seek out leadership opportunities in FACES as well as their schools and neighborhoods.
LEADERSHIP
Carlos Hernández, Lead Program Coordinator
Carlos R. Hernández Martínez (he/him/él) is the Lead Program Coordinator for FACES for the Future San Francisco. He is an alumnus of the original FACES for the Future program that began in Oakland, California. After graduating from the FACES program in 2011, he went on to study at UC Berkeley on a full scholarship. He ultimately obtained his bachelors of arts degree in Spanish and Portuguese with a minor in Education.
Carlos has extensive experience within youth-centered education and career development spaces in the health field. His passions include helping youth visualize their dreams, actualize their potential, and achieve their goals. He has dedicated 10+ years to fulfilling this passion through education access advocacy, college success coaching, career development, and mentorship. This has been guided by his own first-hand experience pursuing higher education and employment having started out as a first-generation undocumented student from Deep East Oakland, originally from Nezahualcóyotl, México.
He got his start in career development and education as a student himself, serving as UC Berkeley’s first ever undocumented peer academic advisor through EOP and the Undocumented Student Program. He has since returned to his alma mater Life Academy of Health and Bioscience as a Spanish teacher for Native Spanish Speakers, an Academic Adviser for DCAC/EAOP, and most recently Academic Counseling Coordinator for the Community Health & Adolescent Mentoring Program for Success at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. He has committed his entire career to promoting the individualized success of under-resourced, first-generation youth and young adults not only in his community of the San Francisco Bay Area but also internationally. Carlos served as an international ambassador for the Mexican government this past Summer of 2023, which allowed him to speak at multiple universities with the purpose of shedding light on the experience of pursuing higher education and health careers as a Dreamer.
Carlos is also a dedicated husband and father of two who enjoys spending his free time with his family. His core values include: honor, integrity, compassion, respect, humility, and resiliency.
CONTACT
Carlos Hernández
FACES for the Future, South Alameda County
Phone:(510) 593-0845
Email: chernandezmartinez@phi.org
Jennifer Mejia Nieto, Lead Program Coordinator
Jennifer Mejia Nieto is the Project Coordinator for FACES for the Future in South Alameda County and FACES Alumni Programs. She graduated from California State University, East Bay with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. As a proud Bay Area native, Mexican-American, and first-generation college graduate, Jennifer has focused her efforts on addressing the mental health needs of diverse communities.
Jennifer quickly identified a significant gap in mental health services, particularly for monolingual families seeking to support their youth. To bridge this gap, she utilized her bilingual skills to host Spanish-speaking parent groups, offering psychoeducation and fostering a sense of community to better support their children. During this time, Jennifer also played a crucial role in helping youth explore career paths, apply to college, secure jobs, and navigate mental health challenges, all while empowering them to pursue their own growth.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Jennifer’s passion for her work deepened, as she has expressed, “I want to be someone I wish I had during my adolescent years.” Her commitment to youth extends beyond her role at FACES; she also contributed to the creation of a new 24-hour crisis facility for adolescents in Alameda County and volunteered as a mentor for BUILD, a nonprofit that empowers underserved youth through entrepreneurship, helping them become CEOs of their own lives.
During her time at FACES for the Future, Jennifer aims to mentor students aspiring to careers in public health by emphasizing the critical importance of cultural attunement and diversity in all healthcare professions. She is dedicated to building bridges that connect these students to their goals, ensuring they are well-equipped to serve diverse communities effectively. Her core values include: Authenticity, Creativity, Respect, Humility, Community, and Resiliency.
CONTACT
Jennifer Mejia Nieto
FACES for the Future, South Alameda County
Phone: (510) 395-2717
Email: jmejianieto@phi.org