Carmen’s success story starts with strife. Before working with SAY at Cloverdale High School, Carmen says that she would constantly put herself down and wouldn’t stick up for herself. If someone told her she couldn’t do something, she believed them, and took that negativity to heart. Now, she’s using tools she learned in SAY’s Project SUCCESS to make choices she’s proud of. Working with Susan in the Project SUCCESS program has made her more confident.

During the school year, she and about 10 of her classmates met regularly with SAY therapist Susan Dunn to talk about the challenges they were facing in their lives, and to share their experiences with each other. Through Project SUCCESS, Carmen learned how to deal with stress, family conflict, school expectations and peer pressure.

“The groups help me understand that I can have lows and highs in my life at the same time. I can deal with the mix of emotions going on in my life. I know how to relax now because it all comes down to making good choices.”

Talking with the other girls in her group was a revelation for Carmen. By sharing her thoughts with others, she discovered that she had so much in common with other teens. “Almost everyone has gone through something similar to what you are going through. I learned that I’m not alone.”

Project SUCCESS teaches youth that even when they feel helpless, they can make choices to change their situation. It teaches teens that they have the power to change their life – “I feel free,” says Carmen.

Project SUCCESS serves teen boys and girls in multiple groups throughout the year at both Cloverdale and Healdsburg High Schools. Without Project SUCCESS, Cloverdale High School would have no mental health counseling available to the 470 teens who attend CHS.

Through an innovative partnership between Cloverdale Unified School District and SAY, we are able to provide desperately needed support to our teens. Since the launch of Project SUCCESS in Cloverdale just two years ago, our staff have served over half of the kids at Cloverdale High.

Even better, we have seen outstanding results from the Project SUCCESS program:

• 33% of High School participants reported no longer using alcohol
• 45% of High School participants reported no longer using marijuana
• 23% of High School participants reported no longer using tobacco

As Carmen experienced herself, Project SUCCESS participants learn that they are not alone, they learn to make better choices, and gain the self-confidence to change their own lives.

Through school-based counseling programs like Project SUCCESS, SAY is helping Sonoma County’s teens grow more self-confident, healthier and happier.

Help the kids who need it most

Published in: NewsCounselingSuccess Stories

Since 1994, SAY has been providing counseling services in Sonoma Valley. Marina Stiefvater runs Girls Circle, a group diversion program that offers teens who have come into contact with law enforcement an opportunity to “make right” on the behaviors that got them into trouble. The girls in Marina’s group have looked at their behaviors and learned tools to make better choices in the future.

When asked about the value of Girls Circle, the participants talk about how it has helped them become less judgmental and learn respect. “We have a lot of things in common, which we never would have thought before the group,” says one participant. They all value the relationships they have built in the group, saying that “It’s good to get advice from the group. We all have the same story, but we all have different backgrounds.”

In going through the Girls Circle curriculum, the girls have begun to notice changes in their own behavior, and their families have seen it too. One girl shares, “My mom was so scared for me, even though I wasn’t for myself. She didn’t hate me, she was scared and worried. When I got arrested for being drunk, I had to go to Juvenile Hall. My mom lost hope – and I never had any. She’s seen a difference in me since I’ve been working with SAY, and since I got clean and sober.”

Another girl shares that, “Before, I didn’t care who I was hanging out with. Now I’ve learned that the people who were letting me do dangerous things aren’t my friends and aren’t trustworthy.”

Peer support is invaluable in Girls Circle – the girls support and challenge one another, helping them make smarter choices: “I used to want to be a famous singer, but that’s not very realistic. So I’m going to finish my GED and take business classes at the Junior College. I want to stay out of trouble.”

Help the kids who need it most

Published in: NewsPressCounseling

I help kids learn to trust again.  -Britni Pimental

Britni is a therapy intern who comes to SAY from the University of San Francisco.

Britni saw the power of counseling with a recent client, a 12 year old girl we’ll call Samantha. Samantha came to SAY feeling that no one loved her and that no one ever would.

Many of the kids we see at SAY have a troubled home life with parents struggling with violent outbursts or addictions to drugs and alcohol. Entering her teen years, Samantha was cutting herself and suffering from depression. She also hated therapy, having had ineffective experiences with it before coming to SAY.

Britni broke through the wall and within five months Samantha had stopped cutting. Britni smiles when thinking of Samantha, saying, “She feels that there is always one person in the world who cares about her. She’s changed her course. She’s going to leave here feeling she is lovable.”

My clients are dedicated to their recovery.  -Ashley Praplan

Ashley, working toward her Masters in Counseling Psychology at USF, came to SAY because she wanted to work with both children and families. Right now her youngest client is 8 and her oldest is 23. “I love SAY. I like that I give kids hope when they are going through a tough time.”

For youth who are facing challenges like domestic violence, sexual or physical abuse at home, our interns provide a safe harbor. “Abuse is a major issue. We treat the clients and meet with parents. We work with kids to create safety plans and we let them know about the Coffee House Teen Shelter, so that they know that there is a safe place they can go to.

Every child gets a list of phone numbers for them to call if they are in trouble. We show them that they have resources when they feel totally helpless.”

Ashley admits that change takes time, “There might not be a huge change every session, but something is happening.” Change also requires an immense dedication. Many of the clients we serve do not have access to their own transportation, and instead take up to 2 to 3 hours just getting to their appointments on the bus.

“One of my clients is 16 and has an eight year-old brother. They take the bus to their counseling appointment after school, rain or shine. It turns into a six-hour excursion for them by the time they get home, but they are so dedicated and have made immense progress.”

We help create measurable results.  -Will Gayowski

Will has served SAY’s youth for nearly one year. He knows that counseling is not a touchy-feely sort of service, but a process that generates real results in the lives of those we work with. “We get specific, measurable outcomes,” Will says.

Clients know that they want to feel less anxious or depressed, and our interns work to measure that so they know when they are succeeding. “We use a scale to measure the client’s feelings and how they interact with the world. From there we work on ways to improve that number.”

We’ve seen outstanding results over the past year:

• 90% of children demonstrated improved behavior
• 75% of adults showed an increase in strengths and abilities to manage problems

Help the kids who need it most

Published in: NewsCounselingSuccess Stories

Jocelyn, a Marriage and Family Therapist, has been at SAY for five years. She has worked as a counselor in local schools, at the Coffee House Teen Shelter and has led groups for teens who are on probation. Currently, Jocelyn leads SAY’s anger management and diversion groups. She loves to see the progress her clients achieve. “I feel so privileged to do this work and love seeing young people make healthy changes in their lives.”

Diversion programs for youth who have been arrested are particularly important to our local community. It costs about $145,000 a year just to house a young person at Juvenile Hall. For about $1,600, our counselors are able to reunite that same young person with their family – and give them tools and resources to cope with challenges in the future.

Working with youth can be particularly challenging, and Jocelyn works to build trust with all of her clients. “As a therapist, my philosophy is that each person I see is an expert on their own life and family. I trust that expertise, which allows me to help them discover and develop skills they already possess to make their lives safer and more connected.”

The youth in our counseling groups consistently reach out and care for one another. This shows every time a youth tells another how something that was shared in group has impacted them to think about their own life and behavior.

Other times, after a teen has shared about a dangerous behavior, a peer who used to do that same thing will share how they made changes in their own lives to be safer. “It’s so powerful to see our teens take the group work seriously. Not only to reach out to one another, but also to make changes to their own behavior to be safer or do things that will move them towards their future goals.”

Help the kids who need it most

Published in: NewsCounselingSuccess Stories

For the third year running, SAY has hired over 100 youth to work on ecological restoration projects as part of the 2011 Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC). For many of the youth who were hired this year, this is their first job, and their first opportunity to gain the independence that having your own paycheck can provide.

Mike Rodriguez, 19, joined the SCYEC three years ago having never had a job before. “I love that they give young folks like me an opportunity. A lot of these kids don’t know what they have, programs like this weren’t around before so this is a great opportunity.”

When asked what he would do with his paycheck this year, he said that in the past he wasn’t as smart with his money. In working in the SCYEC, he’s learned valuable lessons about the importance of teamwork, spending your money wisely and the rewards of working hard. “It build character. It shows you how to work with other people. It’s better than being a couch potato. It’s hard work but I love it.”

The Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC) is a jobs, workforce training and ecosystem education program aimed at employing youth and young adults while teaching them about environmental stewardship. The SCYEC provides youth and young adults paychecks, valuable work experience, environmental education, and the opportunity to contribute to their community through ongoing outdoor experiences.

The coalition of groups who support the SCYEC include the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the Sonoma County Human Services Department, the Sonoma County Water Agency, the Sonoma County Office of Education, the nonprofit New Ways to Work, over 60 project hosts, and five youth agencies including Social Advocates for Youth.

Check out some photos from the crews working at Santa Rosa’s Prince Memorial Greenway below:

Published in: NewsYouth Employment Center

John has been a resident of Sonoma County for more than 18 years and was introduced to SAY through Willie Tamayo, a longstanding supporter of SAY and former board member himself. When asked what he hoped to accomplish as Board President John said, “In this economic climate, we need to be more efficient as non-profits and combine our efforts to collaborate with other organizations throughout the County. The Tamayo House and Coffee House are two of Sonoma County’s most valuable resources, and our programs play a vital role in keeping kids off the street and out of the jail system.”

In John’s term as President he will work closely with SAY’s new President Elect Jonna Green to ensure that SAY’s leadership and vision continues after his 2 year tem. Jonna Green, also an 18 year resident of Sonoma County, is the Vice President of Operations at La Tortilla Factory. SAY holds a personal place in Jonna’s heart, when asked why she got involved, she said that “SAY (and especially the Tamayo House) pulls at my heart strings because I am an adoptee and I know that but for the grace of God I could have grown up in the foster system. As president elect I want to ensure there is excellent organizational leadership in place so that SAY can fulfill its mission of providing hope.”

Dennis Kelley, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Summit State Bank also joins SAY’s Board Officers as the incoming Treasurer. LuAnn Steele, a defense attorney and fifth generation Sonoma County resident is SAY’s new Vice President.

Outgoing Board President Bob Casanova, Marriage and Family Therapist, Matthew Davis, Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch, and Ray Olmstead, Attorney at Law will end their 6 years of service on SAY’s board knowing that they have helped thousands of Sonoma County residents access the life changing services that SAY provides.

Published in: News

The youth who work at SAY’s Sunflower Community Garden this summer will grow more than just vegetables. SAY is hiring several at-risk youth to work in the garden and, in an expansion of last year’s program, the youth will then train over 100 children ages 4-11 about healthy eating habits.

The “Sprigs and Sprouts” Program is a collaboration with the City of Santa Rosa’s Recreation, Parks and Community Services Department, along with organizations such as the Sonoma County Water Agency, The Master Gardeners, Worth our Weight, local restaurants and more.

Over the course of the summer, 100 youth from the Community Child Care Council, Boys and Girls Club and local daycare centers will plant veggies at the Sunflower Garden and will learn about nutrition and how to eat well. This will achieve two things: empower the youth leaders with confidence and work experience and teach the young kids that eating healthy is easy – and fun.

And it’s not just for the kids. At SAY we feel that a lasting impact is had when the whole family is involved – we’ll hold “show & tell” days where the kids can bring their parents and siblings. Families will be able to try the veggies, see what they like, and take home the recipes that suit their taste buds.

We are looking forward to a very fruitful summer! If you want to see the garden for yourself, it is located at the corner of 7th and A Streets in downtown Santa Rosa.

We will be posting progress updates as the garden grows. Below, are photos from early May, before the youth began working in the garden.

Published in: NewsYouth Employment Center

On Saturday May 21, SAY participated in the 117th Annual Luther Burbank Rose Parade. We honored the Tamayo Family by highlighting The Mary and Jose Tamayo House, our transitional housing program for youth ages 18-24. We’d like to take a moment to thank our Rose Parade partners: we teamed up with Summit State Bank to enter the parade and our “Tamayo House” float was generously provided by Stephen Marshall of Little House on the Trailer. We’d also like to thank all of the staff and volunteers who came out to walk with us in the parade and to cheer us on from the sidelines.

The Tamayo House is home to 23 youth, many of whom have aged out of foster care or were formerly homeless. The young adults who live at Tamayo House have the opportunity to learn independent living skills in a supportive environment. Tamayo House residents pay rent, learn to cook their own meals, and can get help finding jobs, completing their GEDs, and signing up for classes at the SRJC. Tamayo House staff offer a friendly ear, support, and referrals to outside services including counseling at SAY’s main office, and access to our Youth Employment Center.

We are honored to work with such an inspirational group of young adults, and had a great time promoting the Tamayo House in the Rose Parade. Photos of our parade group are below:

Published in: EventsTamayo House

“We are honored to have been recognized, alongside Becoming Independent as the best nonprofit organizations in the North Bay. We serve over 6,000 youth and families each year, and we strive to provide them with the support, hope and opportunities they need to succeed,” says Matt Martin, Executive Director of Social Advocates for Youth.

Published in: Press

The Press Democrat’s Celebrate Community Partnership recently published a special Community Champions edition featuring Social Advocates for Youth and our Executive Director Matt Martin. We are proud to have Matt’s dedication to the youth of Sonoma County recognized by the Press Democrat and their Celebrate Community partners. You can read the article online here.

Published in: NewsPress