Youth Alliance celebrates the end to a great year!

-Join us in this end-of-year appeal-

As the end of 2019 approaches, we can’t help but pause to think of all the lives that have been changed thanks to the programs we offer here at Youth Alliance, but it is thanks to generous partners, ongoing supporters, and incredible allies like you, that allow us to serve over 8,500 children, youth, and adults each year in San Benito County, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill.

Youth Alliance has a powerful vision of youth healing, leadership, and voice to support positive change that transforms lives and communities.  Our mission is to provide innovative and culturally relevant services that strengthen and enrich youth, families, and the community. We are able to achieve all this with engagingprograms such as Power School, CASA, CAMINOS counseling, and youth and parent leadership and organizing such as in PARENT ALLIANCE and HYPE.

“Thank you for never giving up on me,” Sara, OLLIN.

“Muchas gracias austed, joven, por lo que hacepor mi hijo (Thank you so much, young man, for what you do for my son),” parent of youth in HYPE.

The need for youth programs and restorative spaces has been key in allowing young people to be safe and receive access to needed help and healing. For some, like Ozzy, it was about rediscovering his value and supporting him to accomplish his educational and life goals. Now, he is in college and looking to a bright future.  Aphrodite is a star student-athlete in Gilroy. She is also a superb volunteer who began working as an after school mentor in her early teens. She is an example of YA’s vision to support youth as leaders of social change.

Lives are changed daily. In 2020, Youth Alliance is turning 25 and with this milestone, we are reaching for the stars and designing a restorative Youth Impact Center in Hollister with goals to expand the Center in Gilroy. In the spirit of the Holiday Season, I invite you to partner with us in these efforts. A tax-deductible donation will help us reach our goal of $20,000.00.

Your donation will bring necessary resources to vulnerable communities who depend on the critical support we provide in order to cultivate a healthier future for children and youth.

DONATE NOW

Happy Holidays!

Support Services in light of Garlic Festival Tragedy

Youth Alliance is on call for what ever is needed to help our community that we love. YA Gilroy office is open all day if you need support or just want to be among friends. 7598 Monterey S. (Off Lewis) Counseling resources are available at Christopher High, July 29, from 8 am-5 pm as students, staff and community begin healing.

Youth Alliance’s Gilroy Office will also be open all day for support and resources. Just a reminder that Youth Allliance Gilroy Office is located in downtown Gilroy, entering through Lewis Street. For questions, call 408.840.3685

 

2019 Change Makers

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, September 21, 2019

5:30pm – 10pm

The Barn by Leal Vineyards

6971 Airline Hwy

Hollister, CA 95023

 

Sponsorships and tickets available! Call 831-636-2853.

Purchase Tickets at changemakers2019.eventbrite.com

This year, YA is thrilled to announce that we have set ourselves a $250,000 fundraising goal in celebration of our 25 Year Anniversary. Dubbed the #YA25 Campaign, our vision is to give each of you the opportunity to participate in bringing to life much-needed community youth impact centers. These centers will be equipped with multiple counseling rooms and youth-training spaces complete with computer stations. Using restorative justice principles, our aim is to create spaces designed for youth empowerment, positive expression, education and most importantly, life success.

This year’s event is not to be missed and will include entertainment, raffles, auctions, celebration of Change Makers (like yourself), and a special recognition of a nominated community member for their outstanding and exemplary work. Your continued generosity through sponsorship, partnership, volunteer work and donations ensures that YA is able to continue its mission to effect change and create a more aspiring and engaging community for our youth. Your sponsorship in our #YA25 campaign looks forward to building out our youth impact centers, awarding scholarships / fellowships to local youth, as well as expanding our highly needed outreach support services in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Benito County.

 

THANK YOU to our current sponsors:

Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline Workshop

 

Youth Alliance, in partnership with the San Benito County Office of Education, invites the community to the Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline workshop on March 20 at Paine’s Restaurant in Hollister. Tia Martinez, Principal at Forward Change Consulting, is expected to present the historical and current landscape of what is nationally known as the “School to Prison Pipeline.”

The School to Prison Pipeline is a descriptor for the fact that students who have been suspended have far higher dropout rates and are significantly more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system than their peers. Data at the state and national levels show that these outcomes disproportionately affect youth of color and youth with disabilities.

In an effort to scale up the systems, structures, and policies that build safe, holistic, and healing schools for all students, participants will review the statewide school discipline trends and discuss best practices in the creation of a continuum of positive supports for their school and community. Participants will have the opportunity to work in school district or community teams to problem solve and create an action plan to support all students.

Local school district or community teams are encouraged to attend, including teachers, counselors, behavioral health professionals, law enforcement, administrators, parents, and young adults. We will work to identify areas for improvement and partnerships needed to support the educational success of all.

Some research: “There is little evidence that suspension and expulsion benefit students or their communities. Psychologists have found that disciplinary exclusion policies can increase “student shame, alienation, rejection, and breaking of healthy adult bonds,” thereby exacerbating negative mental health outcomes for young people. Behavioral problems among school-age youth are associated with high rates of depression, drug addiction, and home-life stresses. For students with these mental health concerns, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has found that suspension can increase stress and may predispose them to antisocial behavior and even suicidal ideation.

-American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2003). Policy statement: Out-of-school suspension and expulsion.” Pediatrics. 112 (5). 1206-1210.

To register for this workshop, go to https://sanbenito.k12oms.org/ and use the calendar function to find the workshop link.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Monica Barragan at (831) 637-5393 ext. 126 or email mbarragan@sbcoe.k12.ca.us.

Proud Parenting Program

Youth Alliance, in partnership with the San Benito County Office of Education, is excited to offer the Proud Parenting Program in San Benito County.  Funded through a grant from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), the program is available to young or expectant parents, ages 14-25, who have been or are currently involved in the criminal justice, juvenile justice and/or child welfare system.

 

Goal:   Break the intergenerational cycle of violence and delinquency by

  • Increasing knowledge around essential life-skills and resources and competency around pro-social expectations
  • Increasing the use of positive parenting methods, techniques and strategies which do not include the use of corporal punishment
  • Experiencing positive changes in overall family cohesion and decrease in family conflict or violence 

Highlights:   Participants attend the 13-week Nurturing Parenting® Program which offers in-class teaching, group therapy support and home visits.  In addition, each participant  receives case-management services for 6 months to 3 years, as needed.  Case-management includes connecting young parents to resources and introducing them to pro-social events such as enrolling at a gym or signing their child up for a sports team.

 

Agencies can make referrals to the Proud Parenting Program through the electronic referral form located here.

 

For more information, please contact Margie Allen at margie@youthall.org

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