Student Wellbeing Centers

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

Los Angeles County has mounted a Positive Youth Development initiative unique in scale and in its focus on issues that cut straight to the heart of what is most critical for youth wellbeing. In partnership with Planned Parenthood of Greater Los Angeles and the county Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Health has opened 38 of 50 planned Student Wellbeing Centers (Centers) in high schools. These Centers provide easy access to confidential substance use prevention, mental health, and sexual health education and services. The Centers utilize a Positive Youth Development framework which offers students both health content and leadership skills, with opportunities to serve as peer leaders and health advocates in their school communities and neighborhoods. A comprehensive curriculum around the three core issues was designed for classroom education and one-on-one and group education in the Centers. After hours support and referrals are available to students through a dedicated, centralized call line. Complementing the services provided to students at the Centers, trained Promotoras offer parent and family education and engagement opportunities at each school, seeking to enhance family communication around adolescent health and wellness and to build parent understanding of the rationale for and role of the Centers.