Pathways Mentorship Program
The Workforce Pathways Program pairs Pathways Professionals with mentors based on their interests, career goals, and experience. This ensures Pathways Professionals get relevant guidance and support.
Benefits of Mentorship
- Experienced support: Access to experienced professionals in their chosen public health area.
- Career guidance: Career growth and development feedback.
- Networking: Opportunities to build meaningful connections within the public health community and workforce.
- Confidence building: Support to make informed career and professional choices.
Pathways Mentorship Options
Single Mentor
Pathways Professionals work with one mentor for the entire program to build a consistent and deep relationship.
Multiple Mentor Interviews
Pathways Professionals lead interviews with several mentors and public health and community professionals to engage with more diverse perspectives and experiences in community and public health.
Want to become a Pathways Mentor?
- Complete an interest survey. The survey shares your expertise and mentoring preferences.
- Attend a mentor-mentee pairing event. This event pairs mentors with mentees based on information from the Pathways interest survey. Our staff will reach out to you with information for the event. Match with a mentee. Once paired, mentors will receive an email introduction, and a calendar invite for a kick-off meeting with their mentee.
Mentorship Expectations
Monthly Meetings: Mentors will meet with their Pathways Mentee every month for 1-2 hours. The goal of these meetings is to provide guidance, support and create shared goals and expectations.
Professional Learning Opportunities (PLOs)
Pathways Professionals can take part in optional Professional Learning Opportunities (PLOs). PLOs are voluntary and based on Pathways Professionals’ public health interests. Professionals are placed in short-term projects that expand skills and knowledge beyond the agency professional placement. Divisions, offices, and programs across the Department of Health (DOH) collaborate in PLOs.
Duration and Commitment
- 1-10 hours per week
- Up to 2 months
- Fixed start and end dates
What's the Difference Between Professional Learning Opportunities and the Agency Professional Placements?
Agency professional placements are the main department or area where Pathways Professionals work day-to-day during the program. Professional Learning Opportunities serve as additional short-term, voluntary experiences where they can explore specific public health interests.
Are you interested in offering a PLO to the Pathways Professionals?
- Complete the PLO Interest Form.
- Email the Workforce Pathways Program about the learning opportunity you want to offer.
- Once submitted, we will share your PLO with Pathways Professionals for selection. We will schedule a meeting to discuss the PLO objectives and details.
Questions
Reach out to us about mentoring or professional learning opportunities at workforcepathwaysprogram@doh.wa.gov.