DACA/Undocumented Health Opportunities Program 2024

DACA/Undocumented Health Opportunities Program
The DACA/Undocumented Health Opportunities Program (DUHOP) demonstrates how the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute at MSU Denver nurtures the dreams and career aspirations of MSU Denver students seeking careers in health and behavioral health fields. This program serves 25 DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and undocumented students utilizing Stanford’s Designing Your Life curriculum and health equity workshops tailored to students in the program.

• Demographic Focus: 100% of participants are undocumented and DACA students.
• Success Rate: With a remarkable 97% program completion rate over five years, DUHOP has demonstrated its effectiveness in guiding students toward their career goals.

Addressing Disparities in Healthcare Education
This evidence-based health scholar cohort program includes recruitment, advising and mentoring to support disadvantaged, undocumented students interested in health careers, helping them prepare to transition from the classroom to the workforce. Research by Cervantes et al. highlights significant barriers faced by disadvantaged students, particularly Latinos, in pursuing healthcare careers. Latinos are 50% less likely to apply to medical school by the time they are seniors than their non-Latino, white and Asian counterparts. The DUHOP program has demonstrated a significant impact on student persistence in college and a commitment to healthcare careers by fostering positive experiences and exposure to health career opportunities.

Holistic Student Support for Success
Directed by a full-time health career navigator with assistance from two paid graduate student fellows, the one-year program includes stipends, curricula focused on health equity, proactive academic coaching and mentoring from a health professional in their field of interest. Students participate in job shadowing opportunities, community and team-building activities to build professional and social networks, and activities to promote wellness and stress reduction, which are important skills to reduce the effects of secondary trauma (experienced by many front-line health care staff) and increase longevity in their chosen field.

Additional Support Provides Continued Student Success
Considering the recent significant increases in the cost of living in Denver, the Day Health Institute plans to increase the DUHOP stipend for participants. These funds will go directly to students and be used to help pay for necessary career-related supplies or tuition. The stipend is especially important for DUHOP students because they face additional financial hurdles, such as the ineligibility for federal financial aid due to their immigration status.

The Day Health Institute’s goal is to raise a total of $30,000 to increase each DUHOP students’ and graduate fellows’ stipend to $3,000 each (a $1,000 increase), with a stretch goal of $60,000 to increase the amount by $2,000 per participant. The additional funds will help students work fewer hours in jobs outside of school and give them more time to focus on their education. The increase will also demonstrate that the University and its supporters believe in the program and are invested in helping students succeed.