The YVPN Team is working to support our members and the community
The Santa Cruz County Youth Violence Prevention Network is committed to the safety & well-being of the youth and families in our communities. We realize that COVID-19 and the preventative measure being put in place for our protection have greatly impacted our communities and the systems supporting our communities. 

We want to let you all know that we are actively working to be supportive and responsive to the emerging needs of our communities and strategizing so that our collective hard work can continue now, in new ways, and when we re-emerge from this current reality. Below you can find resources we have compiled to youth and families during this time.  

Have a COVID-19 Questions? Call 211!


Questions about food access, mental health services, housing services etc. ? Call 2-1-1 (available 24/7 in over 150 languages to support with answers to COVID-19 questions and info on resources) 

You can also check out their website, 211SantaCruzCounty.org to connect to their referral services! 

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Reliable, Current Information Sources:

Resources for Internet & Technology: 

  • Text "internet" to 211-211: a 211 specialist will connect you to reduced rates from AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile
  • Cruz One: Technical Support for Santa Cruz County, Remote Access

Resources for Youth:

United 4 Youth Program & Services: ​
Watsonville
  • YouthServe: created virtual and at home service projects to ensure the safety of volunteers. The service projects they offer intends to help those most affected by the pandemic (primarily seniors).
  • Youth Now: provides direct 1:1 support with youth and their families that are enrolled in Youth N.O.W. They are also offering free online tutoring and virtual guitar classes.
  • Conflict Resolution Center: offering virtual meditation and community zoom meetings. Community Meetings are every Tuesday & Friday (sign up on Facebook)
  • Pajaro Valley Prevention: providing over the phone counseling services for new and existing clients. Also hosting parent support groups via Zoom. Contact them @ (831) 728-6445 with any questions.
  • Community Action Board: over the phone job readiness support, case management and mentoring. Also offering DACA support services & renewals.
  • Living Evolution: in the process of exploring programming online resources. Stay tuned!
  • United 4 Youth Watsonville: created a virtual space for students to connect. Every Friday, a different youth-serving organization in the United 4 Youth collaborative will host a meeting. This is an excellent opportunity for students to connect and learn about resources that are available for them!
Santa Cruz
  • Yoga for All Movement: is offering Virtual Yoga for Kids & Adults!
  • Your Future is Our Business: providing free online informational interviews. Also hosting: What to Be Radio Show Live on Sundays @ 7:00 90.7FM KSQD.
  • Boys and Girls Club: offering club kits to go and virtual activities for Downtown, Live Oak, & Scotts Valley locations.
  • Live Oak Community Resources: continuing to provide essential services on a drop-in basis for any community member in need.  Resource distributions and free bilingual mental health and wellness support.
  • Walnut Avenue Family & Women Center:  continues to have regularly scheduled appointments with participants in the form of phone check-ins. Live Story Time every Tuesday @3:45pm (via Instagram or Facebook )
  • Monarch Services: meeting with survivors via teleconferencing ,email, phone & zoom. Providing support groups and holding client meetings electronically.

Other Youth Activities in Santa Cruz County
  • County Park Friends: Virtual Fun: Great 2020 Challenge. Noon in the Park: Facebook LIVE daily event featuring teachers from across the county. Each event shares the Top 3 Tips for safe outdoor exercise, followed by stories written by local youth. Tune in or watch the videos later on their facebook page. 
  • Diversity Center:
  • County of Santa Cruz Parks, Open Spaces, & Cultural Services: Virtual Recreation Center 
  • Digital Nest: Through Instagram, they are hosting photography challenges, daily routine tips and WIT Wednesdays where you can learn about technology. Students can also meet their local artists via podcast.
    • ​They also created Nest Corps, a youth-led volunteering initiative. They are working on creating a website to share resources youth, virtual content for kindergartners-2nd graders, fundraise for the Undocufund, and help publicize the Campesino Caravan! Stay tuned for more updates!
  • Hospice of Santa Cruz County: Youth Grief Support Program 
  • Jovenes SANOS: They are creating a variety of engaging virtual content for youth! You can find home work-outs & healthy recipes on their Facebook & Instagram. Jovenes SANOS is also offering 1:1 mentoring meetings, college workshops and fundraising for the UndocuFund!
  • Shared Adventures: online activities via Zoom!
  • Santa Cruz City Parks & Rec: virtual recreation activities
  • Watsonville PAL: PAL is offering a large variety of virtual activities. Sign up for their virtual activities calendar here: https://bit.ly/3bEunW5
  • Watsonville Recreation: virtual recreation activities

Summer Activities 2020:

Mental Health Resources for Youth: 

Local Services:
Other Online Services, Websites, Webinars & Articles: 
  • Teen Line: Talk to trained teen volunteers if you have a problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands! Between 6:00pm-10:00pm PST call (800) TLC-TEEN or text "TEEN" 839863.
  • Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety: Resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty. 
  • NPR: With Senior Year in Disarray, Teens & Young Adults Feel Lost. Here's How to Help 
  • Voices of Youth: COVID-19 and youth mental health (sharing art, stories, and resources from youth)
  • UNISEF: 6 strategies for teens facing a new (temporary) normal
  • ​Mental Health First AID: Tips to Help Teens Cope During COVID-19 
  • CDC: Stress and Coping Resources
  • Coursera: Free Courses for Well-being 
  • ​Webinar: COVID-19 for Young People 
  • Webinar: Finishing the Semester in Wake of COVID-19

In our continued commitment to EQUITY, here are some links that can support service providers and the community during this challenging time:

YVPN COVID-19 Informational Newsletters: 

Volunteer Opportunities to Support Youth: 

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