Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center Nuestro Futuro Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center Santa Cruz, California

A brief overview of project goals Overarching Goal: Improve mental health and school functioning among vulnerable first and second generation immigrant youth in the PVUSD Increase access to and usage of mental health services among immigrant youth and families Improve mental health and functioning among immigrant youth and families in Nuestro Futuro’s services Provide all mental health services in a culturally competent manner

A brief overview of plan Location: WHS La Manzana Service Provided: Individual counseling Family counseling Newcomer groups, monthly Student support groups, biweekly Parent support groups, biweekly “Familias Creando Caminos al Exito”

A brief overview of target community 1st and 2nd generation students Families originating from Mexico Increase in families from Oaxaca Spanish Speaking Uninsured/Underinsured Low-income Migrant population Pajaro Valley Unified School District (Watsonville, CA)

Engaging strategies for development, implementation, and/or evaluation Parents Meeting them where they are Educate importance between mental health and academic success Value school Collaborations Community Partners Monthly Meetings Understanding of working with same population Provide understanding between emotional health and school functioning Appropriate community partners

Lessons Learned Facilitates/Hinders Parent involvement, ownership Parents feelings welcomed Parents work schedules Parent involvement, under/over Keeping partners informed Respected community partners Partners understanding roles Changes in partners Understanding importance of services Parent and Partner lack of mental health understanding