YOUTH VOICE, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Connect: increase access to youth resources, youth programs and community events.
Amplify: increase youth voice within local decision-making through Youth Participatory Action Research & civic engagement.
Amplify: increase youth voice within local decision-making through Youth Participatory Action Research & civic engagement.
MISSION
United Way’s Santa Cruz County Youth Action Network (YAN) is a countywide collaborative of youth and adults working together to promote youth well-being by connecting young people to resources and opportunities to create positive community change and elevating youth voices in decision-making.
MAIN FOCUS
- Increase meaningful participation for youth within Santa Cruz County.
- Help youth explore their leadership and increase their skills and capacity.
- Support authentic youth engagement and increase youth participation in community-level decision-making and knowledge of decision-making processes.
- Promote partnerships between youth organizations and reduce silos
- Co-create youth adult partnerships
OUR METHODOLOGY
CONNECTIONS
The Youth Action Network works to bridge the gaps of distance and experiences within Santa Cruz County by creating a space for young people across the county to unite.
The Youth Action Network works to bridge the gaps of distance and experiences within Santa Cruz County by creating a space for young people across the county to unite.
COMMUNITY
Traditionally young people are left out of decision-making processes on issues that impact their lives and futures. UWSCC is working to prevent issues such as substance use and youth violence and increase resiliency in the community by implementing strategies that increase protective factors, such as increasing youth leadership development and civic engagement, increasing access to prosocial activities and positive peer relationships, creating connections to caring adults, and promoting positive social norms.
CULTURE
The Youth Action Network recognizes the need to shift the culture and practice from adults solely making decisions that impact youth to youth and adults working together. The Youth Action Networks seeks to collaborate with local youth leaders and adults to create a community where youth voices are valued.
The Youth Action Network is made possible through generous contributions from:
- Elevate Youth California
- Elevate Youth California supports this project through Proposition 64 funds. The California Department of Health Care Services contracts The Center at Sierra Health Foundation to support the implementation of this program.
- WT Grant Foundation
- The Spencer Foundation
- The Dorris Duke Foundation
- University Community Links
- Monterey Peninsula Foundation
- UCSC Institute for Social Transformation Sprout Grant
- Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz County Probation
- Santa Cruz County Human Services Department
- Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley
- Capitola City
- Capitola Public Safety Foundation
- Scotts Valley City
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