INTRODUCTION
In 2009, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego (RCH) launched FACES for the Future (FACES) with the goal of facilitating healthcare careers among high risk youth in an underserved community. FACES is a four-year academic and career preparation program in partnership with San Diego Unified School District’s Hoover and Crawford High Schools. At Hoover, students travel together as a cohort throughout the program, for both core academic classes and health related classes. At Crawford, they are together for their health-related classes only. Hoover and Crawford High provide core academics and, in partnership with CCTE, Project Lead the Way biomedical science courses. RCH provides hospital-based and community-based rotations, as well as school-based staffing.
The FACES program is structured around five program components: 1) health career experience; 2) academic enhancement; 3) psychosocial support; 4) personal development; and 5) alumni support.
PROGRAM
Health Careers Experience
Career experience in local hospital and community settings is a FACES highlight. As seniors, students participate in clinical rotations at Rady Children’s Hospital, choosing from 25-30 different departments and clinics, making for a truly unique exposure to careers in healthcare.
As juniors, students job shadow at a variety of healthcare and social services organizations located in City Heights. This experience fosters student ties with local agencies; increasing their understanding of local resources and sense of community engagement.
Academic Enhancement
Each FACES student receives the assistance and support needed to reach their highest potential not only as a high school graduate, but also in creating a vision and plan for achieving career goals through higher education. Academic Enhancement components include:
- Specialized Curriculum
- After School Tutoring
- Mentoring
- Study Skills Training
- PSAT/SAT Workshops
- College & University Campus Field Trips
- College Application Workshops
- Financial Aid Workshops
- Scholarship Application Support
Wellness and Psychosocial Support
All FACES students complete the Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents which measures the vulnerability and resilience of each student, and informs the selection of various challenges to target. In addition a Needs Assessment is used to guide case management and referral services offered to all students. FACES advocates a solution-focused, student-empowering approach to resolving conflict with others, teaching students to identify solutions on their own rather than become reliant upon others to solve problems.
Personal Development
FACES students work to create a personal vision with high yet attainable goals for their future. Students work individually with FACES staff for problem solving and access to resources. Workshops aimed to enhance personal growth and leadership development include:
- Healthy Lifestyles
- Resume Writing
- Developing Personal Statements
- Communication Skills
- Ethical Principals
- Personal Character
- Conflict Resolution
- Ropes Course
- Team-Building
Alumni Support
Support for FACES students continues past high school graduation. Alumni events are held during summer and school breaks. FACES alumni and staff are working together to provide support throughout the college years and transition to the work force.
LEADERSHIP
Mary Beth Moran, Center for Healthier Communities Director, RCHSD
Mary Beth joined Rady Children’s Hospital in 2007 to manage the injury prevention programs in the Center for Healthier Communities. In August 2018, she became the center’s director. A physical therapist for 25 years, Mary Beth holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Regis University, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from New York University, a Master’s degree in Education from George Washington University and a Master of Science in evaluative clinical sciences from Dartmouth College. She enjoys working with families from many cultures and has provided medical services and consultation internationally in South Africa, Vietnam, New Zealand and England.
Shelli Brown-Manager, Youth Development Programs
Shelli Brown has been working with and for youth and families in a variety ofsettings for over twenty years. She recently moved back to the San Diego area after having lived out of state where she was able to grow her career, volunteer work and family. Currently, Ms. Brown serves as the Youth Development Program Manager at the Center for Healthier Communities, Rady Children’s Hospital- San Diego. Before moving back to her hometown, she lived in Denver, Colorado where she worked in youth violence prevention as the Project Director and the Community Site Manager for the Youth Violence Prevention Center-Denver (federally funded initiative through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). She also provided direct service to justice-involved youth as Licensed Professional Counselor at an adolescent drug treatment center and taught conflict and anger management skills at a non-profit organization. Ms. Brown’s interest in impacting young people and families took root in San Diego where she worked for the San Diego Unified School District as a teacher’s aide and counseling aide shortly after graduating from college.
Alexandra Ayala – Lead Coordinator
“Alexandra (Alex) Ayala is the Lead Coordinator for the Medical Academy and FACES for the Future programs through the RCHSD Center for Healthier Communities. Prior to her current position, Alex was a Program Coordinator for the FACES for the Future program for six years transitioning as a volunteer to Project Specialist to Program Coordinator. Alex received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Spanish from UCLA. She now is attending SDSU earning her Master’s degree in Social Work. Through her master’s program, Alex has interned with Instituto Madre Asunta in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, a shelter to provide assistance for women and children who have been displaced after deportation from the United States or are migrating, mainly from central Mexico. She also interned at UCSD- Senior Behavioral Health Inpatient Psychiatric Care providing assistance to those 60 years old and older who need the highest-level of specialized care.”.
Carolyn Winn – Coordinator- Hoover HS
Carolyn Winn is a Program Coordinator for the FACES for the Future Program. She is working on her MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and holds a BA in Sociology. She has several years of experience in health education and program development. Prior to her employment with Rady Children’s Hospital, she held a variety of roles at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and also traveled through Latin America and Europe for 1 year! She is passionate about providing opportunities for youth to become advocates for their community.
Alicia Wood –Coordinator- Hoover HS
Alicia majored in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work. After college, she started work at Braille Institute in Anaheim running the after school program for blind and visually impaired children. After moving around Orange County and Long Beach for several years, she transferred to Braille Institute in San Diego where she worked until 2016. In June 2016, she graduated from CSU Long Beach with a Master’s in Emergency Management.
Warren McBride – Coordinator – Crawford HS
Warren McBride is the Program Coordinator of FACES San Diego at Crawford High School in San Diego. Warren brings a long and varied background of working with adolescents, including teaching art, safety and violence prevention and tobacco cessation, and outreach and parenting skills for young fathers.
Warren previously worked at Rady Children’s Hospital from Feb. 2002 to May 2006 where he designed and established the Juvenile Hall Wellness Team. He then served as the program’s Coordinator. Still running today, the Wellness Team provides health and wellness education and counseling to youth in a juvenile detention setting.
CONTACT
Shelli Brown, Youth Development Program Manager
Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego
3020 Children’s Way, MC 5073
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 858-576-1700 ex 243745
Email: sbrown7@rchsd.org