Trains volunteers to work with children who have been removed from their homes, declared dependents of the court due to abuse, neglect or abandonment and placed in foster care.

Court Appointed Special Advocates work for a judge, alongside attorneys and social workers, as sworn officers of the court to advocate for children. Advocates receive an initial 35 hours of training and volunteer 10-15 hours per month on behalf of one child. The volunteer advocates on behalf of the child until the case is resolved.

Youth Services: Academic Support, Career Exploration and Development, Health and Wellness, Social-Emotional Support, Youth Leadership.

Stress Busters:
Experiencing Nature, Mental Healthcare, Mindfulness Practices, Physical Activity, Supportive Relationships (Foster Youth Only)

Community Bike Collective breaks down barriers for people who would like to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of bike riding. We do this primarily through two programs, a Ride Program and a Bike Giveaway Program.

The Bike Program:
We provide participants with everything they need to have a safe, fun experience riding a mountain bike in the great outdoors, all at no cost to them! Everyone is fit individually with a bike and helmet then we head out to ride the trails. We offer skills instruction, moral support and encouragement. Participants explore the wonder of nature, the challenges of bike riding and the joy of friends and community!

The Bike Giveaway Program:
We accept donations of used bikes, fix them, and give them to a deserving new home - 700 bikes since this program began.

Youth Services: CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Administers the following services: Regional Occupational Programs, Santa Cruz County Outdoor School, Santa Cruz County Special Education and Child Development Resource Center. Also administers the Juvenile Hall and Community Schools, Alternative Education Programs, Academic Contests, Teacher Training and Staff Development.

Develop leadership skills in students

Youth Services: ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

• Garden-Based Science
• Weekly Lunch Room Flower Bouquets
• Plant Propagation
• Composting Program
• School Meal Vegetable Harvesting
• Garden Crafts
• Gardening Skills

Identify and connect unaccompanied homeless and at-risk youth and young adults (ages 15-24) to the individualized services they need to thrive, including Coordinated Entry, referrals, and individualized plans and case management to achieve housing, education, and/or employment support network goals.

Youth Services: ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Matches caring and responsible adults with children for one-to-one mentoring throughout Santa Cruz County, Monterey County & San Benito County. Program requires a minimum one-year commitment from Big, Little and the Little's caregiver. Children ages 7 and up are referred and paired with a carefully screened adult mentor through a matching process. Mentors are provided with training, support, and ongoing coaching from agency staff.

Also offers an after-school enrichment and mentoring program in Watsonville and Santa Cruz.

Youth Services: Academic Support, Health and Wellness, Social-Emotional Support

Stress Busters: Supportive Relationships

Provides comprehensive, strengths-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health services for Medi-Cal eligible children and youth who have moderate to severe behavioral health needs.

Services include assessment, treatment planning, psychotherapy (individual, family), case management, and psychiatric care (evaluation and medication management). Services delivered at County behavioral health clinic locations, community, or home-based settings, as clinically appropriate.

The Access Team provides 24-hour confidential crisis intervention and referral services (800-952-2335).

Provides substance use disorder prevention, early intervention, and treatment services across the continuum of care.

Stress Busters: Behavioral & Mental Health, Mental Healthcare, Mindfulness Practices, Supportive Relationships

Youth Services: CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Works with young women in high school to encourage them to pursue post-secondary education, and plan for future careers.

Youth Services: CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Serves the Pajaro Valley community with a focus on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District(PVUSD) youth and their families offering counseling, substance abuse (drug, alcohol, and tobacco)prevention and intervention, and conflict resolution. Mental health services, substance use disorder services, prevention services, youth leadership development, family-supporting services.

Collaborates with police department, public probation and education department, a community-based gang prevention program (BASTA) to provide prevention curriculum, student gang intervention services, school dropout, teacher in service and parent education in PVUSD schools and community.

Youth Services: HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Youth Services: ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP

We provide work-based learning opportunities like expos, panels, guest speakers and more to elementary, middle, and high school students as well as internships for post-secondary students. Students get to explore a variety of career options and interact with professionals currently working in the industry. We provide real-world exposure and connect youth to adults who can assist youth with finding their path. Nothing is more valuable than hands-on experience.

Youth Services: YOUTH LEADERSHIP

The Diversity Center supports Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) in middle and high schools through workshops, special events, and resource sharing. We organize social gatherings and activities for LGBTQ+ and allied youth (ages 11-18) and young adults (ages 18-24), including mental health fairs, Queer Prom, and CampOUT. In response to community needs, we launched a playgroup for gender-diverse children (ages 5-11) in collaboration with TransFamilies. All program participants are asked to complete our Community Connection Survey annually.

Key Programs

Rainbow Kids: A monthly 90 minute playgroup for gender diverse, LGBTQ+ kids and allies elementary school age 5-11 and their families. Co-facilitated with TransFamilies.

Prismatic Youth Gatherings: A monthly activity for LGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 11-18. This program is designed to help youth feel a sense of belonging and empowerment.

GenderVentures: A monthly support group for gender-diverse youth ages 11-18. This program encourages youth to explore and understand how gender informs the way we experience the world. One of the best ways to freely explore gender diversity safely, is to do so with community!

We host an annual Queer Prom and CampOUT for LGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 14-18.

Youth Services: CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH & WELLNESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOUTH LEADERSHIP