Date

12-2025

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services

Abstract

Youth mental health challenges have become an increasingly urgent public health concern, particularly among Hispanic and Latino adolescents in Santa Cruz County, California. United Way Santa Cruz County’s Jóvenes Sanos program is a youth-led initiative through the United4Youth Department which aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental health, promote peer-to-peer connectedness, and provide opportunities of growth and leadership skills. However, barriers connected to parent involvement and participation in collaboration of parent-program relationships has limited parental communication about mental wellness, the primary contributing factor for effective youth support, mental health, and overall well being. This capstone project was designed to strengthen parent engagement within the Jóvenes Sanos program through a bilingual parent feedback survey which led to the creation of a Parent Orientation Night. The survey gathered feedback on parents’ current levels of involvement, comfort with mental health conversations, and preferred methods of engagement. These findings suggested that parents of the program wanted access to more information on the work being done and regular opportunities to connect with program staff. The Parent Orientation Night was implemented to introduce families to program goals, provide culturally responsive mental health resources, and promote open communication and parent-program relationships. It is recommended that United Way Santa Cruz County continue hosting family nights, maintain bilingual communication, and expand parent education efforts to sustain meaningful community impact.

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