Washington Hospital Mentor Program is gearing up for its second year helping local students advance their career goals while completing their high school educations.

The program, which began as a pilot in September 2001, works in coordination with Newark Unified School District.  Washington works with students from Crossroads Independent Study, a modified high school program within the district.

Washington's program trains students for work as transporters, patient registration clerks, physical therapy assistants, unit clerks, Washington Outpatient physical therapy aides and Certified Nursing Assistants (C.N.A.).  C.N.A. training is done in conjunction with ROP.

Representatives from Washington will visit classrooms beginning in August 2003 to speak with students and their parents about the program.

Students work under the direct supervision of a Washington Hospital mentor who oversees their training at the Hospital.  Each participant must complete 150 to 400 hours of training during the program.

Washington Hospital mentors are all required to complete a full day of training before working with the students.

Four students completed the program in 2002 and all four were placed in active employment within the hospital in July 2002.

Jennifer Nunes, 19, of Newark, was one of the four to complete the program, and now works as a per diem transporter.

"I think the program will help a lot of people figure out what they want to do in life," she said.

Jennifer's friend Rachel Nicholas, who also works as a per diem transporter, completed the program at the same time.  The two also completed a C.N.A. license program together as well.

"The mentor program has put me in a good direction and opened a lot of doors," Rachel said.