Mariposa Community Health Center (MCHC) held its 8th annual Summer Youth Institute (SYI) graduation ceremony on Thursday, July 23, 2009, at the Diamond House on Morley Avenue in Nogales. The theme was a tribute to the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, as 22 teen participants were honored.

The graduation ceremony for 22 teen participants was enjoyed by quite a few people on Thursday, July 23, in Nogales.

Each year, MCHC holds a 7-week Summer Youth Institute that provides area high school students ages 14-19 with enrichment opportunities that promote health and well-being, exposure to various professions, and assists them with developing long-term goals and job skills.

The core of the program is its certifications, which include Community First Aid, Safety and CPR; HIV Education and Prevention; Arizona state certification in Basic Tobacco Intervention Skills; and Open Airways based on curriculum from the American Lung Association. Other trainings include Character Development, Multiple Intelligence, True Colors, Reality Sexuality, nutrition, media literacy, self esteem, career and college planning, cyber bullying, teen dating violence, eating disorders, Tough Guise, Health Research Methods 101, Curfew Laws, Drug and Gang awareness, diabetes, folic acid and car seat training, and public speaking. Participants are active in team building exercises, 6 weeks of physical activity, excursions to the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona and a week to shadow medical providers at MCHC. Selected youth continue to participate at MCHC and work as Teen Health Facilitators.

During the graduation ceremony, 22 SYI participants were honored and provided with a Teen Health Facilitator Certification for completing 170 training hours.

MCHC thanks the following who made this year’s SYI possible: Cochise College, Safeway, Aprendiendo Por Vida Gear Up Program, SEAHEC, The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Nogales Police Department, Rio Rico Fire District, Metro Task Force, Tucson Toros, Anza Gym, The Diamond House, Richard Teran and Gary Jones.

For more information on SYI, contact MCHC at (520) 375-6050.