Semillas de Salud - A Grow Your Own Program for New Mexico Youth
Semillas de Salud supports a recruiting pipeline within rural underserved areas in New Mexico which addresses the educational, economic, and cultural health of our communities, while simultaneously addressing increasing Health Professional shortages through youth workforce development. Working with other organizations and institutions, Semillas de Salud identifies youth in our communities interested in sciences, and creates a pipeline of mentorship and support which extends from middle school on through health care profession job placement.
Semillas de Salud benefits New Mexico youth, as well as the economic development of aging rural NM communities. Both are addressed by encouraging youth in their ambitions for jobs in healthcare, and supporting them through the entire schooling and placement process, with a particular emphasis in giving them exceptional clinical experience in rural community health centers – the heart of their own communities. The focus on keeping New Mexico youth in New Mexico supports the long term vision of economically strong New Mexico communities, more jobs for New Mexico youth, and the ability of health services in New Mexico to provide quality care for those suffering from being unemployed, uninsured or underinsured.
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Collaboration
We have already initiated collaborative efforts with several groups that have the same vested interest in a “grow your own health professional” pipeline and we are meeting regularly. Below is a list of established collaborators and how we interact with them. The role of the Program Administrator will be to continue to establish more collaboration around the state.
Collaborator |
Roles |
NM Highlands University |
Clinical experiences for Pre-med program and RN/BSN program, LISW internships |
University of New Mexico |
Clinical experiences for pre-med, Office of Diversity Pathways to Health Careers (pipeline), Mentoring for middle school and high school students, residencies and preceptorships for UNM med and PA schools students, BA/MD program |
Luna Community College |
Clinical experiences for both Nursing program and Dental Hygiene program |
ATSU Dental Program |
Preceptorships for dental students, Dental program |
East Las Vegas Schools |
Mentoring of middle and high school students (Dreammakers, Dreamcatchers) and health career clubs |
West Las Vegas Schools |
Mentoring for middle school summer programs, creating health career club |
NM MESA |
Mentoring biomedical science students |
AHEC |
Key partner in developing a comprehensive statewide fluid pipeline system |
Youth Clubs (e.g. 4H) |
Start programs in rural areas that incorporate health principles |
Creation of a Health Professional Mentoring Alliance |
Work with Health Professionals statewide to encourage and inspire them to help mentor health professional students. |
Española School District and Peñasco Independent School District |
Creating health career clubs and offering health education in the classroom |
UNM-Taos |
Setting up presentations for schools |
SF Public Schools (Capital Highschool) |
Setting up presentations for Introduction to Health Care Careers Program |
- If you are a state, city or private health program with an interest in collaboration
- If you know of a child with interest in the sciences or specifically the medical profession
Semillas de Salud is a program of El Centro Family Health
Administrative office
(505) 454-3218
Matthew Probst, Founding Director
(505) 429-7927