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

Unhealthy relationship behaviors among youth, including poor communication, lack of boundaries and normalization of control, remain a significant public health concern. This capstone project was implemented at Teen Health Outreach, a program within Santa Cruz County Public Health Department that provides sexual health education and outreach to youth. The community served included youth ages 12-18, with a focus in Watsonville, a diverse and underserved population with limited access to culturally responsive health education. The project involved the development and facilitation of an interactive healthy relationships workshop designed to increase knowledge of consent, communication and relationship “red, yellow and green flags,” while building confidence in recognizing and addressing unhealthy behaviors. The workshop was delivered in collaboration with community partners and included discussions, activities and a post-workshop survey to evaluate outcomes. Results indicated that participants demonstrated increased understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationship dynamics, improved confidence in setting boundaries and greater awareness of available resources, meeting the expected outcomes. To further address this issue, it is recommended that the program expand outreach efforts, implement pre- and post-assessments, and increase accessibility through bilingual programming and stronger community partnerships.

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