Our Youth Mentoring Program at Maimonides Medical Center

October 15, 2019

The Union’s summer program for teens helps build professionalism, independence and a vision for the future. Established in 1991, the Youth Mentoring Program (YMP) is a project of the 1199SEIU League Labor Management Initiatives, Inc., and is administered by the 1199SEIU/Employer Child Care Fund. The program provides a six-week summer employment opportunity for the 15-to-17-year-old children of eligible 1199ers and introduces kids to career opportunities and vocational experiences in the healthcare industry. The program also supports the development of fundamental skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving. Teens are paid to work in 1199SEIU institutions where their parents are employed and are mentored by site supervisors and seasoned youth development specialists. For this feature, 1199 Magazine spent a day this summer with YMP participants at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

“ My daughter wants to be a cardiologist, so this is a great experience for her. It’s going to help her go into the world and become more independent.”

– Janet Walters patient care technician at Maimonides