UPMC enlisted for e-mentoring effort
By Rick Wills, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Dave Mosey said he thinks there are more teens in need of mentors than mentors with time.
"Being a face-to-face mentor is often complicated. There are even legal and security issues involved when you are dealing with underage kids," said Mosey, executive director of SmartFutures, a Downtown nonprofit that runs an online mentoring program.
SmartFutures got a big boost Wednesday, when UPMC -- the state's second largest employer after Wal-Mart -- volunteered to promote e-mentoring among its 50,000 employees.
"They have a wonderful program. It's a great opportunity to engage our professional people with students in the area," said Dawnita Wilson, chief of staff for UPMC's Center of Inclusion in Health Care.
The program aims to match thousands of high school students with UPMC employees over the Internet and to help them plan for their future.
Paula Balogh, a nurse practitioner at UPMC's Hillman Cancer Center, said she finds mentoring rewarding on several levels.
"I can talk to kids through the computer in a very non-threatening way. I feel like I can help students navigate the system and set goals. And I can tell them about how I started out with nothing," she said.
UPMC also has enlisted the support of partner organizations, including Community College of Allegheny County and Bidwell Training Center to expand the mentor pool.
The effort targets 10th graders, Mosey said.
"That seems like a good age. Senior year is too late to start planning what to do after high school," he said.
Each student will receive a personalized college and career plan, created with his or her mentor.
SmartFutures, which was founded in 2005, offers several educational and career-related online programs including Keys2Work, PA eMentoring, My Career Journey and Financial Literacy 101
By Rick Wills, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Dave Mosey said he thinks there are more teens in need of mentors than mentors with time.
"Being a face-to-face mentor is often complicated. There are even legal and security issues involved when you are dealing with underage kids," said Mosey, executive director of SmartFutures, a Downtown nonprofit that runs an online mentoring program.
SmartFutures got a big boost Wednesday, when UPMC -- the state's second largest employer after Wal-Mart -- volunteered to promote e-mentoring among its 50,000 employees.
"They have a wonderful program. It's a great opportunity to engage our professional people with students in the area," said Dawnita Wilson, chief of staff for UPMC's Center of Inclusion in Health Care.
The program aims to match thousands of high school students with UPMC employees over the Internet and to help them plan for their future.
Paula Balogh, a nurse practitioner at UPMC's Hillman Cancer Center, said she finds mentoring rewarding on several levels.
"I can talk to kids through the computer in a very non-threatening way. I feel like I can help students navigate the system and set goals. And I can tell them about how I started out with nothing," she said.
UPMC also has enlisted the support of partner organizations, including Community College of Allegheny County and Bidwell Training Center to expand the mentor pool.
The effort targets 10th graders, Mosey said.
"That seems like a good age. Senior year is too late to start planning what to do after high school," he said.
Each student will receive a personalized college and career plan, created with his or her mentor.
SmartFutures, which was founded in 2005, offers several educational and career-related online programs including Keys2Work, PA eMentoring, My Career Journey and Financial Literacy 101
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