Kent ISD — Through personal narratives, reenactments and hands-on activities, more than 200 Kent County students explored career opportunities in the mental health field at an event hosted by Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services last month.
“Pine Rest Beyond the Books — The High School Edition,” was an immersive program designed to introduce teens to behavioral health careers. Students from Kent Career Tech Center and several local high schools, including Byron Center, Kenowa Hills, Kelloggsville, Kentwood, Lowell and Northview, attended the event.
Amy Pierce-Danders, Pine Rest workforce development manager, said many students entering the medical field focus on traditional roles, such as nurse or doctor, without realizing the breadth of opportunities available. Other behavioral health job options include counselor, social worker, psychiatric technician, behavioral analyst and recreational therapist, she said.
A Pine Rest integrated clinical care team presented a mock patient review
Byron Center juniors, from left, Olivia Kuipers, Claire McDowell, Maddie Law and Madison Gray
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in substance abuse, behavioral disorders and mental health counselors are expected to see the highest growth over the next decade, with about 48,300 openings projected each year on average.
“The goal is to get the students on campus where they can learn about behavioral health issues and discover these healthcare pathways,” Pierce-Danders said.
Career Journeys, Educational Opportunities
The program featured several current Pine Rest staff members in a range of roles, as well as an integrated clinical care team that conducted a mock patient review.
Pine Rest Chief Nursing Executive Gretchen Johnson kicked off the program at Pine Rest
Opening the event was Pine Rest Chief Nursing Executive Gretchen Johnson, who shared her journey into the mental health field. She began as a direct patient care provider and advanced within the organization to become chief nursing executive and helped launch Pine Rest’s Mother and Baby program.
Johnson also helped establish the Pine Rest Nursing Academy, which partners with 13 area colleges and universities. Eligible students can receive up to $40,000 in tuition support in exchange for a two-year employment commitment to Pine Rest after graduation.
Lowell High School senior Emily Swint said the academy aligns with her goal of becoming a psychiatric nurse.
“I like that they’re able to really be with their patients,” Emily said about the profession. “In a typical hospital, you might not get to know everything about a patient. Here, you care for both their physical and mental health. You’re healing the whole person — not just their body, but who they are.”
While the program focused on health careers at Pine Rest, it also highlighted non-health positions, including communications and environmental jobs.
Kelloggsville junior Iyanna Brown said she appreciated learning about the variety of careers as well as the tuition and student loan assistance Pine Rest offers. Her classmate, junior Anna Young, said she was surprised to learn that someone could start working as a psychiatric technician at Pine Rest at age 18 with just a high school diploma.
“I feel like we learn about mental health and mental health jobs, but this is a good learning experience because it offers a diverse and deeper dive into the field,” said Kenowa Hills junior Ava Dearmond.
Kenowa Hills senior Soleil King asks a question to presenters
Caledonia senior Molly Liggett said she attended because she wanted to explore career options while learning more about mental health.
“It’s been eye-opening and covers topics that aren’t usually talked about,” Molly said. “We recently completed a mental health unit at the Kent Career Tech Center. It was interesting, but I’d like to explore more in depth what it takes to care for and support people with their mental health.”
Pierce-Danders said about 21 seniors expressed interest in job opportunities. She plans to host it again next year, with more interactive opportunities for attendees.
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