Florecer - Youth Mentorship
Florecer
Florecer is a youth mentorship program first developed through First 5 Napa County’s First 5 Napa Network (F5NN) in 2022 to diversify and support Napa County’s early childhood workforce.
The word florecer significa florecer in Spanish. This program established a mentorship network for youth to connect with career professionals in a variety of early childhood specialties, allowing them to explore future career paths.
The program consists of an annual summer cohort experience where junior and senior high school students are paired with mentors from a variety of early childhood field professions such as pediatric physical therapists, speech language pathologist, childcare center directors and providers operating family childcare homes. During this period students complete internships at the mentor host site, develop career and education goals, and learn from a variety of child and family-serving organizations in our community.
Students participating in the Florecer program also have access to college-level coursework in child and family studies and education (CFSE) through Napa Valley College.
Mentors and mentees are encouraged to develop career and education goals, complete reflective journal prompts, and execute a plan to stay connected beyond the cohort experience.