WHO WE ARE

As founder and Executive Director, Diane works to establish strategic partnerships to create and sustain vital programs and support systems for families and underserved,vulnerable youth, while working collaboratively to advocate for lasting community change. Diane has a Masters in Social Work from San Jose State University (2007), is a fellow alum of the Stanford Graduate School Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders (2014), the Women’s Foundation of California Policy Institute (2014), and Rockwood Institute’s California Leaders of Color (2012). She has served on various committees and boards such as the Board of State Community Corrections Executive Steering Committee, San Benito County Mental Health Advisory Board, San Benito County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and currently serves as a member of the South County Youth Taskforce Policy Team, South County United for Health Leadership Team, board member of the Community Foundation for San Benito County, Latino Advisory Committee, and the Region V Afterschool Advisory Board.

Ms. Eliana Delgadillo oversees the Caminos – counseling program for the Youth Alliance. She provides direct services to youth and families who do not have any insurance in San Benito County and supervises two Social Worker interns. For the Caminos program, Ms. Delgadillo also provides outreach education to local schools and community partners on recognizing early signs and symptoms of mental health problem behaviors. She also connects families to needed long term services. 

Ms. Delgadillo has been working with YA for past 5 years to create an impact for each clients, families and community. Mrs. Delgadillo began with the Youth Alliance as a BASW student intern.  She began providing case management and counseling services to youth on probation.  She co-facilitated a Joven Noble group with probation youth and organized the end of the year retreat.  Through the Joven Noble program, Mrs. Delgadillo also co-facilitated a parenting group for English and Spanish speaking parents.   

Mrs. Delgadillo also worked with Go Kids to run their Preschool Expulsion Prevention Program.  This program worked with preschool children, parents, and teachers to help understand and deal with problematic behaviors that were placing the child up for expulsion of preschool services. 

She holds MSW and BASW from San Jose State University. 

Jason Franks oversees all aspects of the prevention and education of the FAMiLiA teen parent program, training and staff development of youth peer educators, and the curriculum development and digital engagement strategy for the StriveTV youth media outlet. He has 20+ years’ experience working in digital media including electronic music composition, video production, graphic and web design. Jason has worked with youth across many platforms ranging from his early career as a day care provider and a teacher’s aide at Santa Cruz High School to his recent work as a program leader and site coordinator in Youth Alliance’s very own after school program.

Jason Franks is a graduate of UCSC with a major in Literature and a minor in Education with an emphasis on child development.

 Elizabeth Morales is a Case Manager for the FAMiLiA Teen Parent Program for the Youth Alliance.  For 7 years Mrs. Morales has worked with underserved teen parents and their children and has helped transform their lives.  Mrs. Morales has offered a unique opportunity to keep teen parents connected in school, get extra social and emotional support and get that professional guidance to navigate the challenges of teen parenthood.  Mrs. Morales works closely with another case manager and collaborates with other agencies to better provide the best support to their clients.

Elizabeth brings 12 years of experience as a Homestart Developmental Specialist in Early Intervention in the counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Benito. Provided families with the skills necessary to manage the developmental problems the child may experience. Provided these services in the home, Elizabeth worked to meet each child developmental needs as well as to support and educate families about community resources. She worked on all areas of development cognitive, language, gross and fine motor skills, social / emotional, self-help skills and sensory processing.  Mrs. Morales worked closely with the License Clinical Social Worker, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist and Physical Therapist to better assist and provide professional support for her clients. Mrs. Morales provided Comprehensive developmental assessment reports, Ongoing developmental monitoring, Direct hand-on intervention activities, Family/caregiver training and education, Community resource information and referrals, Emotional support and counseling, Spanish translation and Infant Massage Instruction.  

Mrs. Morales earned her B.A. from CSUMB, where she majored in Collaborative, Human Health Services and Public Safety.