Date

5-2026

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 experiencing or at risk of homelessness often lack awareness of available support services, limiting their ability to access needed resources. This capstone project was completed at Community Action Board’s Youth Homeless Response Team (YHRT), a program that provides outreach, case management, and support services to youth in Santa Cruz County. The project focused on youth and young adults who engage with or could benefit from YHRT services. The purpose of the project was to increase awareness and engagement through a targeted social media awareness campaign. Implementation included planning and designing youth-friendly content, developing promotional materials, and collecting both quantitative and qualitative data through social media analytics and staff feedback. Expected outcomes included increased visibility of services and improved youth engagement with online content. Results indicated that the project partially met its intended outcomes. While there was an increase in views and likes on posts, engagement through comments and shares remained limited. Findings suggest that visual, simple, and relatable content was more effective in reaching youth audiences. It is recommended that YHRT continue the campaign while incorporating more interactive elements, such as polls and Q&A features, and combining online outreach with in-person engagement strategies to improve participation and connection to services.

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