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

Women in Watsonville experience ongoing mental health challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression, while facing barriers to accessing culturally responsive support. This capstone project was completed at Growing Greatness, a community-based organization that provides outdoor and wellness programming for youth and families in Watsonville, California. The project focused on improving outreach to better engage women, particularly Latina women, who may experience barriers related to stigma, language, and trust. The intervention involved developing a four-module bilingual curriculum designed to strengthen culturally competent outreach practices among staff, volunteers, and interns. The purpose of the project was to create more accessible, community-centered messaging to support engagement in wellness programs promoting mental health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with team members to evaluate the curriculum. Findings showed that the project met its expected outcomes. Participants reported increased confidence in creating outreach materials, demonstrated understanding of cultural competence, and described the curriculum as clear, practical, and applicable to real-world settings. Overall, the curriculum was viewed as authentic and aligned with the community’s needs. Recommendations include developing the curriculum as a staff training tool, continuing to adapt the guide over time, and creating a centralized photo bank to support consistent, culturally relevant outreach.

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