Community Health Youth Advocates (CHYA)
Welcome Prospective Applicants
The Community Health Youth Advocates (CHYA) application is currently closed. The CHYA 2023-2024, Cohort 4 is currently in session. If you are interested in applying to this program or would like to share this information with your network, please complete our interest form, and program staff will notify you via email once the 2024-2025 application opens in June 2024. Please note that the information below is for current CHYA students to reference. Questions? Please call our office at 323-563-4811 or email us at chya@cdrewu.edu.
Program Description
Community Health Youth Advocates (CHYA), provided by Pipeline Programs at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, is a multilayered academic program designed for high school students. Our scholars are educated on the healthcare landscape, exposed to local and global health disparities, and empowered to pave their own path toward a degree and career in the healthcare field. Students who complete all components of the program receive a $1,000 stipend.
Additionally, our scholars will learn about health systems and the structures that promote and challenge health equity. The notion that healthcare and equity is a human rights, that health is impacted by more than just physical and mental characteristics, and that the pathways to achieving health equity and making a difference are diverse, will be emphasized and re-emphasized in our class lectures, activities, and the internship experience. For students to demonstrate their understanding of these concepts, as well as harness and challenge their creativity, students—alongside their group—will be challenged to create a new product, service, or strategy to be delivered through the nonprofit they develop in the fall session, that addresses a local or regional healthcare inequality/disparity.
Throughout this year-long academic program, our scholars participate in several components, also known as sessions, which includes Community Health and Care Systems (Fall 2023), Rites of Passage (Winter 2024); Professional Training and Certifications (Spring 2024), and In-Person Internship (Summer 2024). CHYA is a virtual program that is held on Google Classroom, except for the Summer 2024 session, which will consist of a 40-hour in-person internship at a local organization located in Los Angeles, California. Internship sites will be announced in May 2024.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be enrolled in a high school during the 2023-2024 school year (9th-12th)
- Students must be able to commit to attending all four (4) sessions with limited absences
- Students must complete program assignments by their due dates
- Students must be able to work collaboratively within their groups on a Capstone Project
- Students must commit to being an active learners throughout the year-long program
- Students must be available to complete a 40-hour in-person internship during the summer session (June/July 2024) at a local organization. All sites will be located in Los Angeles and will be announced in May 2024. Students will be placed at a site by program staff. Please note that students and parents/guardians will be fully responsible for the student’s transportation to and from the internship site.
September – November 2023
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2023
- Invitation to Interview: September 4, 2023 (check your email)
- Mandatory Student Interviews: September 11-30, 2023
- Students Notifications: October 1, 2023 (check your email)
- Confirm Acceptance: October 7, 2023
- Join Google Classroom (Accepted Students Only): October 11, 2023
- Fall 2023 Session: October 14, 2023 – December 9, 2023
- Winter 2024 Session: February 3, 2024 – March 23, 2024
- Spring 2024 Session: April 6, 2024 – May 25, 2024
- Capstone Shark Tank: June 1, 2024
- Summer 2024: Session: June/July 2024 (students must be available during weekdays)
Other Important Information
Application Review Process & Student Interviews
Student applicants will receive an invitation to schedule a virtual interview on September 4, 2023. Interviews will be conducted September 11-30, 2023.
Students will be notified via email regarding their application status on October 1, 2023, which will indicate if a student has been conditionally accepted, waitlisted, or denied.
If conditionally accepted into the program, students will be required to confirm their acceptance by October 7, 2023. If a student does not confirm their acceptance by the deadline, the conditional acceptance offer may be revoked and offered to another student on the waitlist.
We highly advise student applicants to check their emails frequently throughout September and October 2023 to avoid missing important information or deadlines.
Joining Google Classroom (Accepted Students Only)
This is a virtual year-long program that is held via Google Classroom. Once a student confirms their acceptance, they will receive instructions on how to join the CHYA Google Classroom. Students must join Google Classroom by October 11, 2023.
CHYA Interest Form link: https://forms.office.com/r/AuWLtBWHeD
CHYA 2023-2024 Program Timeline
Fall 2023, Community Health and Care Systems
This 8-week session will begin on Saturday, October 14, 2023, and conclude on Saturday, December 9, 2023; there will be no class session on November 25, 2023, due to the holiday weekend. This session will focus on the healthcare sector and provide general exposure to the healthcare industry; students will also begin their Capstone Projects with their assigned groups. Please note that all class sessions are held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. throughout the 8-week session.
Winter 2024, Rites of Passage (ROP)
This 8-week session will begin on Saturday, February 3, 2024, and conclude on Saturday, March 23, 2024. This session will focus on self-development, diversity and inclusion, and individual resilience; this session is reflective and provides students an opportunity to learn more about themselves. Please note that all class sessions are held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. throughout the 8-week session.
Spring 2024, Professional Certifications (and Shark Tank Preparation)
This 8-week session will begin on Saturday, April 6, 2024, and conclude on Saturday, May 25, 2024. This session will provide First A.I.D. for Mental Health workshops throughout the span of 3 weeks. In addition, students will receive professional certifications through Citi Program with a primary focus on HIPPA and FERPA. Students will also receive a voucher to complete the Adult, Child, and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED Online training offered through the American Red Cross. Please note that all class sessions are held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. throughout the 8-week session.
Furthermore, students will receive guidance on completing their Capstone Projects in preparation for the Capstone Shark Tank event on Saturday, June 1, 2024 (virtual). Please note that the Capstone Shark Tank event is mandatory.
Summer 2024, 40-Hour In-Person Internship
During this session, students will be placed at a local organization and are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours throughout June and/or July 2024. All internship sites will be located in Los Angeles, California. Internship sites will be announced in May 2024. Once students receive their placement, students will work directly with CHYA program staff and their direct internship site contact to create a custom internship schedule throughout the weekdays (during regular business hours). Please note that students and parents/guardians will be responsible for transportation to and from the internship site.
We understand that students may have conflicting commitments or varying schedules throughout the summer months; for this reason, program staff will remain committed to accommodating student needs throughout this time. However, we do expect students to plan ahead of time to ensure they allocate time throughout the week (weekdays, no weekends) to meet the 40-hour in-person internship requirement. Completing the internship is a required component of this program.
