Program works with students, parents
On April 7, nine students became the first class to graduate
from El Joven Noble (The Noble Youth) program in San Benito County.
The program is a 30-week comprehensive youth development program
designed to help students develop life skills, cultural identities,
character and leadership skills.
Diane Ortiz, the executive director of Hollister Youth Alliance,
helped bring the program to the county when her group received a
community development block grant to do gang prevention work.
Program works with students, parents
On April 7, nine students became the first class to graduate from El Joven Noble (The Noble Youth) program in San Benito County. The program is a 30-week comprehensive youth development program designed to help students develop life skills, cultural identities, character and leadership skills.
Diane Ortiz, the executive director of Hollister Youth Alliance, helped bring the program to the county when her group received a community development block grant to do gang prevention work.
“We were offering training to local professionals to work with kids at risk or involved with gangs,” Ortiz said.
She had heard about El Joven Noble programs in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
“It is one program that has been identified as a promising practice,” she said. “I was incredibly impressed. It was longer term and it identified adults and family members, and teaches the kids to become mentors as well.”
In addition to staff from HYA, staff members from the San Benito County Probation Department and San Benito High School went through training for the program, which offers intensive work with the students and parents alike.
“I see a huge benefit and I see, frankly, a change,” said Brent Cardall, the chief probation officer. “What is unique about this program versus other programs is that it working with the family and getting the kids involved in the plan.”
Cardall said many of the parents showed up for the graduation.
“This is the new thing – getting parents involved and helping them understand how to communicate with the children,” Cardall said. “It was really cool last night [April 7] to see them laughing.”
The first group of students who graduated this week were identified by probation officers as those who might benefit from the program, and some of them had been in the system for a long time, Cardall said. Funding for the probation department El Joven Noble program is from a youth offender block grant.
“We wanted to build a support in the community rather than sending them away to higher levels of incarceration,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the group started with $8,000 and has made the program work through volunteers and interns from San Jose State University.
One of the things the program touches on is cultural identity.
“Ideally, it brings in the elders and fosters that connection with the other generation,” Ortiz said. “These kids are empowered by the stories from mom and dad or grandparents. They go through a rite of passage so they are the guides for other youth.”
At San Benito High School, the next phase of the program started March 27.
“We will have 20 students and we are doing a kind of a pilot program,” said Krystal Lomanto, SBHS principal. “I’m ecstatic with having this as an after-school program as an intervention.”
She emphasized that the program “supports not just the students, but the family.”
“It was a pretty awesome feeling on Friday to greet the kids who were here after school on a Friday afternoon,” she said.
Adrian Ramirez, a student support manager, will be coordinating the program at SBHS.
“The student services team looked at a lot of students,” Ramirez said. “We looked at ones we thought would benefit the most. We looked at students struggling with academics, with truancy or behaviorally.”
They also selected some students who may have had some trouble in the past, but who have taken some steps in the right direction.
“It has gotten off to a good start,” he said.
Ramirez stressed that the program is in a pilot phase now, but staff would like to expand it. Whether they can do that depends on funding.
“If the mental health funding comes through, we will be able to hire staff,” Ortiz said.
A proposition on the May 19 statewide special election ballot could move a substantial amount of mental health funding to the general fund.
Prop. 1E is one of several ballot measures that would divert previously voter-approved funds to the general fund for the next two years to cover other state obligations and close the budget gap. In 2004, voters approved a 1 percent tax on people with taxable income of more than $1 million to provide mental health services at city and county levels.
If approved, it is estimated that $226.7 million would be moved from the Mental Health Services fund in 2009 and again in 2010 to the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program, which would cover the state’s share of Medicaid for low-income people under age 21.
“It is too early to obtain valid information on what MHSA components the $460 million would be diverted from if Prop. 1E should pass,” said Alan Yamamoto, the director of San Benito County Behavioral Health Services at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting.
$5 Makes a World of Difference Campaign
Hollister Youth Alliance staff members have launched a fundraising campaign to keep its programs going. Donations to the “$5 Makes a World of Difference Campaign” will support the free after-school programs that are offered to 350 students in first through ninth grade. Students will be seeking sponsors, who can complete a donation card that will be put up at one of the after school sites. Pledges can be made at the Community Center, R.O. Hardin School, Calaveras School, Marguerite Maze Middle School, Rancho Apartments or at the HYA office, at 310 Fourth St., Ste. 101.
“We recognize that times are tight right now, but believe that if everyone pitches in a little bit, we can make a huge impact in our community,” Ortiz wrote in a press release. “Our goal is for all youth to have access to life-enhancing academic and enrichment programs.”
