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

2. 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

3. 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”

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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