The Boston AHEC, hosted by the Boston Public Health Commission, focuses on increasing the racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Boston’s health-care workforce. The Boston AHEC provides both a Youth to Health Careers Program (Y2HC) and Medical Interpreter Training Program.
Over the past 25 years, more than 10,000 students have participated in programs emphasizing careers in preventive and primary care medicine, allied health, public health, and complementary medicine.
The Youth to Health Careers Program
The Youth to Health Careers Program offers educational programs designed in such a way that a student can start in the 8th grade and continue through high school. Our model works because the teaching tools are designed
by teens for teens.
Four programs are offered:
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Medical Interpreter Training Program
Almost 30% of Boston residents were born outside of the United States and there are more than 140 different languages spoken in our neighborhoods. With the growing number of people in our city who speak a language other than English, there is an increasing demand for bilingual and bicultural interpreters in the healthcare setting.
Two training options are available to meet the needs and capacity of the healthcare facility.
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15-Hour Introductory Course
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54-Hour Comprehensive Course
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Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC) Programs
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Introduction to Community Health and Health Careers
This course is designed for 8th grade students and is offered in selected middle schools throughout Boston.
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Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC)
Summer Enrichment Program
This 7-week intensive program is great for middle and high school students looking to work in the community. Students explore the health field through BAHEC signature courses, public health symposiums, interdisciplinary projects, internships and field trips.
Applications to the program exceed funding. In Summer 2005, 63 high school and 30 middle school students from Boston completed the program and were invited to participate in the Y2 HC After school Program.
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Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC)
Afterschool Program
This program addresses issues relevant to adolescent development, by emphasizing positive, protective factors such as creativity, leadership, and responsibility. Structured and unstructured programs are offered in the areas of health career exploration, academic, MCAS, SAT, college preparation.
Parental involvement and support is encouraged and regular contact with teachers and guidance counselors is maintained. |
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BAHEC Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
Comprised of a diverse group of 20 Boston high school students, the Youth Advisory Board provides the youth leadership component of BAHEC and advises the
Boston Public Health Commission
on issues and concerns related to youth health. It offers students a specific forum for participation and advocacy at both programmatic and organizational levels, and brings them together with members of BAHEC's Adult Advisory Board for mentoring and skills-development opportunities. Members of the Youth Advisory Board work on a wide variety of planning, research, curriculum development and outreach activities.
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Medical Interpreter Training Programs
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15-Hour Introductory Course
This 15-hour program provides an introduction to basic interpretation between three people: the client, the provider and, the interpreter. The curriculum includes topics such as:
- Basic skills for successful interpreting in primary care setting
- Cross cultural communication skills
- Professional code of ethics and protocols
- Medical terminology in target languages
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54- Hour Comprehensive Course
This program incorporates the introductory training plus additional competency skills. Role playing is incorporated into each session. A 3-hour practicum is required at a health care facility under the supervision of a trained interpreter.
Topics include:
• Clarifying the role of the interpreter
• The interpreter code of ethics
• Cross cultural communication skills
• Medical terminology
• Professional Issues and protocols
• Culture and delivery of health care
• Interpreting in the primary care setting
• Interpreting for pediatric patients
• Mental health issues and interpreting
• Interpreting in domestic violence situations
• HIV /AIDS issues
• Interpreting during emergency situations
• Grief/loss/death/dying issues
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Medical Interpreter Training Program Position Opening
BAHEC Medical Interpreter Position Description
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Upcoming Conference
Oral Health & HIV
An Update On Current Issues
Friday, March 16, 2007
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INNOVATIONS
IN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE AWARD
Recently the Boston AHEC was awarded the “Innovations in Public Health Team Award”
from the City of Boston.
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Publications and Products
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