The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project is an innovative, school-linked, nonprofit organization assisting at-risk adolescents in overcoming the challenges they face daily and avoiding behavior such as substance use, violence, unsafe sex, dropping out of school and running away. Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where at-risk teens and their families are strengthened, empowered and equipped with the tools they need to live successful and healthy lives. We intervene early, offering unconditional acceptance and cost-free programming in order to mitigate the impacts on health and academic success associated with high-risk behavior.
Initially founded in January 2000 in response to a city-sponsored needs assessment of local youth, the Youth Project today serves over 25,000 students on 15 local junior high and high school campuses in the Santa Clarita Valley (North Los Angeles County). Services are available to all youth, though historically we have targeted and developed specialized programming for at-risk youth, low-income and uninsured youth, poor academic performers, bilingual (English as a Second Language) students and youth who are socially marginalized. Despite a local student body that is predominantly (60%) Caucasian, Latino/Spanish-speaking youth and families have traditionally received about half of our individual and group support services.
SCVYP Services
The following is a detailed description of the services the Youth Project provides. However, we are always willing to tailor a group, presentation or process to better accommodate the individual needs at each school.
- Peer Mentoring: Peer Mentors provide one-to-one, confidential support, as it relates to ANY issue (anger, grief, depression, school, family, etc). Mentors meet with students on campus, as often as they request.
- Crisis Intervention: Peer Mentors are available to respond to crisis calls, within a reasonable time frame, no matter what the issue.
- Classroom Presentations: These presentations provide information that help students on all levels, from communication, to life skills, to college prep to goal setting. We can tailor presentations, to fit the needs of each campus.
- Lunchtime Madness: An informal pizza and game party, to help kids become more social on their campus.
- Teen 411: Outreach campaign, in alignment with National Awareness Campaigns to educate students about obesity, anti-smoking, suicide prevention, child abuse/neglect prevention, etc.
- Outreach: Staff have a strong presence on every campus and in the community. Part of continued outreach, is the distribution of FRY Cards, which is a wallet size card, that lists all crisis numbers both nationally and locally; students are entitled to free fries, every month, if they present the card to McDonald’s. The HelpNotHassle.com website is an additional resource for information, questions, and crisis referrals.
- Parenting education & support: It is our goal to expand our program to include parent education; our staff will provide parenting education and support services to parents. Topics include: communicating with your teen, drug & alcohol use, gang affiliation, how to help your child succeed in school and other relevant issues.
- Teen Employment Assistance: Do you need help finding a job? We can help you fill out job applications, write a resume, learn interview skills and provide you with tips to get that job you’re looking for.
- Educational Assistance: Our staff is available to help students and families navigate through the school system, fill out college applications and assist with tutoring on a case by case basis, if staffing permits.
- Family Mediation: Sometimes sitting down and working out problems as a family can be difficult. Our staff is available to help families find solutions to their current circumstances and begin to understand each other’s point of view.
- Support Groups: Peer Mentors facilitate weekly support groups ranging in various topics (see examples below); the groups are determined by the school counselors based on need. Staff works to promote healthy dialogue and problem solving within the group setting.
Support Groups, including but not limited to:
- Teenage Grief Group: The Teenage Grief Group is designed to equip students who have faced the loss of a loved one in their life, whether family or friend, with the skills to deal with their grief, and with a safe place to talk about their loss.
- Life Skills Group: The goal of this group is to prepare students for the transition to living independently, and covers such topics as moving from the family home, finances, college and career goals, time management and car ownership.
- Male Issues Group: This group deals specifically with the challenges that young men face today, including: peer pressure, dealing with emotions, respect, handling anger, family relationships, decision making, violence and drugs and alcohol education.
- Conflict Resolution Group: The goal of this group is to give students the skills they need to effectively and positively deal with conflict in their lives. Anger management, communication, listening and respect are key topics.
- Families in Transition: Our Families in Transitions Group is very effective in helping students learn to live peacefully within their own family. This group focuses on issues surrounding a change in the family environment, (divorce, blended families, etc.). Teens will be given a chance to talk about family dynamics, roles in the home, healthy communication and how to cope with change and loss.
- Family Issues: The focus of the Family Issues Group is similar to that of that of the Families in Transition, but is not specific to families that are in transition, but applies to all families. Discussion topics will include: how to live peacefully within your family, how to communicate effectively with your family, respect, setting family specific goals, and how to cope with family rules while developing a sense of independence.
- Teen Issues: Anything goes in this group … co-ed group to discuss all issues that a teen may be facing, from relationships to bullying, drugs/alcohol abuse, sex, grades, family ….
- Girls/Males Issues Group: This group is designed to guide and support young women and men through education and mentoring in order to empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices. Topics include relationships, body image, goal setting, decision making, respect, anger management and drugs and alcohol education.
- Pregnant Teens: Group for pregnant or parenting teens and their partners. The groups focus is to ensure students have the resources they need, gain support from others in their same situation, help with emotional stress around pregnancy or parenting, and a focus on keeping students in school and educated.
***Confidentiality: All sessions are confidential. However, we are a mandated reporting agency and if a student expresses a desire to harm himself or others or if there is reason to suspect child abuse or neglect, we are obligated to report to the appropriate agency. ALL STUDENTS are reminded of this before every session.***
