PVPSA's Youth Prevention Programs are collaborations between PVPSA, local community organizations and national programs that work to support youth to increase self-esteem by treating primary mental health issues which addresses the underlying causes of high-risk behavior.

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VALOR

The VALOR program is a collaboration between the PVUSD Student Services Department and PVPSA whose primary purpose is to prevent school dropout by supporting youth in completing their requirements due to expulsions to re-enroll in their school of residence. Our team of case managers is available to support all students who could benefit from support and guidance during their expulsion term. Students and families develop an individualized support plan that includes individual case management, counseling services, parenting support and prosocial engagement. For information, please call Maria Cervantes at 831-728-6445 or via email at maria.cervantes@pvpsa.org

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LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS PROGRAM (LCSSP)

Case managers will be working in partnership with the Student Services CWA Program. The case manager will be to help families non-responsive to PVUSD's SARB and truancy process. Case managers then provide family-centered support to engage families in service. For more information contact Jaime Molina at jaime.molina@pvpsa.org.​

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HEALING TOGETHER SMALL GROUPS

Case managers facilitate small group sessions with middle school aged students. The group sessions are eight weeks long. For more information contact Maria Cervantes via email at maria.cervantes@pvpsa.org or Jaime Molina via email at jaime.molina@pvpsa.org.​

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CIRCULOS

HEALING SELF, HEALING COMMUNITIES AND TRANSFORMING SYSTEMS

All Pajaro Valley youth, families, and community members are welcome. For more information contact Sofia Cuentas via email at sofia.cuentas@pvpsa.org or Jaime Molina via email at jaime.molina@pvpsa.org.​

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TOBACCO/CANNABIS USE PREVENTION EDUCATION

The goal of this program is to reduce youth tobacco use and youth cannabis use by empowering students in grades 6-12 to make healthful decisions through tobacco-preventative instruction, interventions, and reinforcement activities. This goal is met through a series of tobacco/vaping prevention education instruction offered to any elementary, middle, or high school class as desired by educators. Classroom, community, and school staff presentations are also available. For more information, or to schedule a presentation contact Sofia Cuentas or via email at sofia.cuentas@pvpsa.org, or call 831-728-6445.​

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STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

Evidence-based parent programs are designed to help parents and kids develop happier family relationships, improve mental health outcomes, and help decrease youth alcohol and drug use, violence, and delinquent behavior. The purpose of this program is to increase family unity, increase positive communication and parenting skills, improve parent/child relationships, decrease family conflict, and increase social skills, cooperation and prosocial friends. For more information contact Maria Cervantes via email at maria.cervantes@pvpsa.org or Jaime Molina via email at jaime.molina@pvpsa.org.​

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YOUTH RECLAIMING VOICE AND POWER

The Youth Reclaiming Voice and Power is a project to increase substance use prevention policy change and increase youth civic engagement in the greater Pajaro Valley. This program works upstream to prevent substance use and promote youth health and wellbeing. Youth will engage more purposefully in shaping policies that support this outcome. This project is supported by Elevate Youth California, which is managed by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation under contract with the State of California’s Department of Health Care Services through Proposition 64, California Cannabis Tax Fund, Allocation 3, Youth Education Prevention Early Intervention and Treatment Account. For more information, contact Sofia Cuentas or at sofia.cuentas@pvpsa.org, or call 831-728-6445.

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THRIVING YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES (TYC PROGRAM)

The TYC program provides Santa Cruz City Schools with an avenue to support youth wellbeing, connect to school and community, and to reduce disciplinary incidents. Through a trauma-informed culturally and developmentally responsive model this program supports student’s academic, social, and emotional wellness. Middle and high school students (ages 12-18) qualify for this FREE program. Students referred must attend a Santa Cruz City School. For more information, contact Sofia Cuentas or at sofia.cuentas@pvpsa.org, or call 831-728-6445​.​

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Three pathways provide services for all levels of need:

• Pathway 1: Prevention - 8 weeks - Stanford Cannabis Toolkit and Invincible Youth interactive activities.

• Pathway 2: Intervention- The Seven Challenges substance use program and Invincible Youth designed to motivate youth to evaluate their lives, consider the changes they wish to make and succeed in achieving goals.

• Pathway 3: Cessation- 8 sessions of Project EX, a smoking and vaping cessation program.

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Informational materials: Program Brief; Informational Flyer

Informational Video 1 (English) 

Informational Video 1 (Spanish)

Informational Video 2 (English)

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