La Familia Central Valley will provide behavioral health services and anti-violence mitigation strategies to two Central Valley school districts - Patterson and Winton Unified School Districts.

La Familia Central Valley (LFCV) was established to fill a growing need in the local community: a behavioral health home for those experiencing life’s challenges in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. This project, named “Un Paso Adelante,” will add local treatment services to two school districts: Patterson Unified School District (PUSD) and Winston Unified School District (WUSD). PUSD, located in Stanislaus County, has 24,000 residents and serves over 6,000 students. 76.4% of those students are Latino and 74% qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch. WUSD, located in Merced County, has a population of 11,000 residents and serves 1,904 students. 87% of those students are Latino and 92.4% qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch.

LFCV will train school personnel, educate students and families on common mental health concerns and violence indicators, and hire two Staff Therapists to provide intensive services to the most at-risk students to decrease school violence, divert students from justice involvement, and increase staff and community ability to recognize and intervene in mental health crises and secure treatment. The tiered support program for students will include the following strategies: (1) Programming for the most at-risk students (individualized support and intervention, including El Joven Noble group counseling sessions); (2) Individual and family counseling sessions, including Cara y Corazon training for parents; (3) Programming for all students (student assemblies and resources); (4) Professional Development for Teachers and Staff  (a SAMHSA and What Works Clearinghouse designated evidence-based practice called Youth Mental Health First Aid); (5) Parent Involvement (outreach to parents to reduce the stigma associated with mental health treatment, explain program benefits, and promote the benefits of involvement in the programs offered; Parent workshops and trainings); (6) Technological Support (recordings of yMHFA training and other educational meetings with students and parents will be easily accessible with students, parents, and community members).

LFCV’s program aims to reduce violent incidents in both districts by 10%, reduce justice-involvement recidivism rates among participants in El Joven Noble interventions, decrease the percentage of incidents of bullying on campus by 15%, increase the percentage of students who believe that their school has an “anti-bullying climate” by 10%”, and increase the percentage of students who perceive school as “very safe” or “safe.”