Escuela Quetzal Program
Escuela Quetzal is a counseling school designed for youth who are willing to participate in intense self-assessment around topics such as family/relationships, drugs/alcohol, behavior, school, communication, negative peer influences, etc. in order to determine what obstacles are in their lives and what is not working for them. Youth will receive support with creating and reaching both short and long-term goals through individual, group and family counseling sessions. The vision is to promote hope and meaning in youth's lives and create lasting positive change.
Operated in collaboration with the County Office of Education (COE) and Children’s Mental Health, Escuela Quetzal is a fully accredited high school providing academic coursework geared toward high school graduation. Students are expected to actively participate in all classroom activities, individual, group and family counseling sessions. Youth will also have the opportunity to participate in community outings/activities and volunteer opportunities.
Who Qualifies? Any junior high or high school teen aged 14 – 19 who has the desire to actively participate in individual and group counseling and be successful in creating positive change in their lives, but is experiencing difficulties functioning in a traditional school environment.
What is the Cost? Services are free thanks to partnerships with County Office of Education, Santa Cruz County Children’s Mental Health and community donations to Youth Services. Donations are encouraged.
What is expected of participants? Youth are expected attend daily on-site schooling through County Office of Education and to actively participate in individual, group and family counseling sessions with Youth Services counselors. Families of youth are strongly encouraged to participate in Parent Support groups and to attend regular family counseling sessions.
Contact Info: For more information, call (831) 688-8856 ext. 0.
School-Based Counseling
Youth Services provides counseling on-site at three different school districts throughout Santa Cruz County, as well as the County's Office of Education. Counselors provide quality mental health services and support to students struggling with a variety of challenges. Common issues are depression, anxiety, anger, negative peer pressure, drug and alcohol abuse, family conflict, divorce, and probation or CPS involvement.
Teachers, administrators, parents and probation officers refer students for counseling services. Students can also seek their own counseling services. Youth Services counseling leads to improved family and peer relationships, anger management, positive coping skills, self-confidence, better school performance, and tools to stop substance abuse. These services are supported by collaborations with the school districts, individual schools and County Mental Health.
Schools where Youth Services counselors provide services:
San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
- Boulder Creek Elementary
- San Lorenzo Elementary
- San Lorenzo Valley Middle School
Scotts Valley Unified School District
- Scotts Valley High
Santa Cruz County Office of Education Alternative Schools
- Watsonville Community
- Santa Cruz Community
- Louden Nelson Community
- Star Community
- Esperanza Middle School
- Success Academy
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- New School
- Watsonville Charter School of the Arts
Who Qualifies? For school-based school services in San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley, services are available for all referred students. For the County Office of Education and the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, students must have Medi-Cal insurance to qulaify for counseling services.
What is the Cost? Services are at no cost to students and their families.
Project Success
Project Success is designed to prevent and reduce substance abuse among students 12 to 18 years of age.
Project Success' Activities:
- Prevention education to help students identify and resist pressures to use substances and understand the complexities of use
- School-wide promotional activities to aid students in positively changing the social norms about substance abuse and increase the compliance with school and community policies and laws
- Parent meetings and workshops to educate and support parents about teenage substance abuse and
- Time-limited individual and/or group counseling for students who have substance abuse issues, have peers who use substances or simply want support in dealing with various school pressures.
What is the Cost? Services are at no cost to students and their families.
Contact Info: For more information, call (831) 429-8350 ext. 107.