The Teen Wellness Connection (TWC) application for summer 2023 have now closed.
Teen Wellness Connection
UCSF SEP’s newest program, Teen Wellness Connection (TWC), fosters youth leadership and public health interest as students learn about health issues facing teens. Participants collaborate with UCSF scientists and health researchers to learn about the year’s chosen topic, then create a one-day health summit for other high school students. TWC is a 9-month-long program for a team of high school students, comprised of 5 Senior Leaders (rising seniors, program alumni) and 20 Junior Leaders (rising juniors). This team will work together to brainstorm effective means to relay health information to their peers under the guidance of SEP staff. In order to participate, students must be a rising junior and attend an SFUSD high school, SF Charter School, or participate in SF College Track.
The TWC begins with a 3-week summer intensive where participants learn about the year’s health focus from UCSF experts and researchers, build community with their peers, and begin planning the summit. During the school year, participants meet every two weeks to continue learning, planning, and organizing for the conference. The TWC culminates in the spring with a Teen Wellness Summit, showcasing the leadership skills, collaboration, and hard work of TWC participants. This spring conference will highlight scientists and health professionals as guest speakers and panelists, host forum discussions, and present interactive and hands-on activities for San Francisco high school students.
As a Teen Leader, you can expect to:
- Receive a stipend of $2100.
- Help scientists and experts learn how to connect with you & your peers, and what health information is relevant to your lives.
- Build your professional network through interactions with scientists and others at UCSF.
- Develop your science communication skills.
- Learn how to effectively work in a group.
- Collaborate with UCSF health specialists to create engaging discussions, panels, and activities as part of the spring summit.
- Build community as a cohort of 25 high school student leaders.
2023/2024 Timeline
Summer Intensive: July 17th – August 4th
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- Learn about the health focus from UCSF scientists
- Develop connections with your high school teammates
- Brainstorm on the sub-topics within the health focus that are most interesting to you
School Year: September 2023 – April 2024
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- Meet with the TWC team every other Wednesday for 2 hours between 4:30pm-7:00pm
- Serve on an organizing committee to plan the health conference. Choose your focus: organizing Speakers and Programming, Hospitality, Sponsors and Volunteers, or Outreach and Marketing.
- Host a day-long Teen Wellness Summit in the Spring for SF Unified School District students. Date and location chosen by the team during the Summer Intensive.
Topics for Teen Wellness Connection
The health focus will change each year and will be based on input from student participants. They’ll learn about an overarching health/wellness topic, then work in subcategory project teams to deepen their understanding.
- Year-long Topic for 2022-2023: Teen Mental Health
- Possible future topics: Substance Use, Sexuality and Gender, Racism and Health Disparities, and Healthy Relationships.
Eligibility
- Current high school sophomore
- Enrolled in an SFUSD high school, SF charter school, or SF College Track
- Individuals from a background underrepresented in science (see our FAQ for details)
Who are we looking for?
If you can answer “YES” to any of these questions, this program might be for you!
Are you unsure about pursuing science in your future and you want to spend your summer learning more?
Will this provide an opportunity to you that you would not have access to otherwise?
Have you faced challenges that have prevented you from meeting some of your goals for yourself?
We aren’t just looking for students who have the best grades or have accomplished the most. In fact, we don’t ask you for your grades or GPA as part of your application. Instead, our objective is that your experience in this program is likely to make a difference in your life. We focus on potential and opportunity. In selecting students, we want to know that our program can make a meaningful and impactful difference in each student’s life.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for other details!