In an effort to provide young minority women with entry-level job skills, a UCSF internship program is proving to be a model for success.

Six women who graduated UCSF’s Community Outreach Internship Program were honored Friday afternoon by program administrators and sponsors at a ceremony in the Lange Reading Room.

Since last July, 10 young mothers have completed five month-long stays at the University through the Community Outreach Internship Program. They have all gained valuable experience and marketable skills, and several have been hired permanently by UCSF, if not by other employers.

“What we’re basically doing is cultivating our own workplace,” explains Crystal Morris, manager of UCSF’s temporary employment program (TEP), who helps recruit interns through Florence Crittenton Services, a home for unwed mothers located in the Western Addition.

The program is an outgrowth of frustration over the difficulty of placing minority neighbors into entry-level jobs at UCSF.

The interns, who have high school diplomas and computer skills — but minimal work experience — are paired with UCSF mentors, who design monthly work plans according to a department’s needs. Mentors also help interns accrue responsibilities and gain interpersonal skills by including them in team-oriented projects when possible.

Chrystal Leach, a cheerful 21-year-old mother, fortuitously joined the department of restorative dentistry around the same time that a full-time employee had quit.

“They needed someone, so I just moved right in,” says Leach, who is especially grateful that her baby girl now has health benefits.

Ellie Gutman, an administrative analyst in the department of restorative dentistry and Leach’s mentor, agrees that Leach arrived at just the right time.

“She came very well prepared and has skills that many other people who’ve worked for me didn’t have — including her great smile,” says Gutman. “She’s going to go far.”

Leach is expected to become a permanent employee next month.

Maricruz Reyes, 25, who interned at the SFGH AIDS Program, also meshed extremely well with the University, providing data management skills that she had learned earlier through a computer course.

“I made a lot of spreadsheets,” says Reyes, who was recently hired by the California Child Care Resource Center.

Other young mothers in San Francisco have heard through the grapevine about success stories like Leach’s and Reyes’.

“We get three to four calls per week for this program,” says Kathy Phillips, program director of the young parent center at Florence Crittenton.

“It’s spreading by word of mouth. The feeling of accomplishment and independence to know you can support yourself is just so energizing for most of these young mothers,” says Phillips.

More than 20 women are now on the program’s waiting list. Morris says she is actively looking for more departments willing to invest time and money to give somebody a chance.

“We’d really like to get more departments to participate,” she says.

Interns’ wages are paid by both their respective department and the program, which has received a $20,000 grant from Levi-Strauss & Co.

TEP assists interns with writing resumes, learning interviewing skills, dealing with co-workers and developing personal money management strategies.

Tenekea Kennedy, who interned at the Institute on Health and Aging, also praised the program. She, too, will continue as a permanent employee at the University.

After receiving her graduation certificate, Kennedy said, “The only way this program can get better is if more girls get involved. UC is a really hard place to get work and it’s a really great place to be.”

Other recent graduates of the Community Outreach Internship Program and their sponsoring departments are: Bonita Barfield, cardiology; Karla Melara, temporary employment program; and Monica Vasquez, cardiothoracic surgery. Melara, too, has been given a career position at UCSF.

Departments interested in participating in the program should call Crystal Morris at 476-2115.

By Brad Foss

1st appeared 08/12/97