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Bullying Prevention Program
The Youth Development Office receives a small grant from Sacramento County Office of Education to assist in district-wide bullying prevention efforts. We use these funds to supplement our important work in building students' capacities for empathy, collaboration, respect, and advocacy skills. We partner with guest speakers and organizations to lead staff professional development on bullying prevention, and hold family/community workshops as well.
YDO also works closely with the Office of Behavioral Health to reinforce our district's PBIS and SEL Goals. Our bullying prevention work is in keeping with the district's overall goal to establish positive norms for safe learning environments.
Care Pairs
CARE PAIRS FLYER (4 PAGES).pdfOn the right, you can see the survey results compiled from our Care Pairs programs! With this survey, we can see what worked with our students -- and what we could improve on. It is rewarding to see how our work can positively impact our students as they transition into middle school. We love working with our students!
Care Pairs is a program designed to bring a diverse group of 6th grade students together to build confidence and self-esteem, practice anti-bullying techniques to become upstanders and allies for their peers, learn how to manage conflict, and build students' capacity to make healthy choices and avoid drugs. By the end of the 10-15 week program, students will be more knowledgeable on these topics, as well as gain skills in communication, public speaking, leadership and advocacy.
Because YDO is such a small team, we are not able to bring the Care Pairs program to all elementary sites. However, if you are interested in having Care Pairs at your elementary school, please contact Program Specialist, Larrah Feliciano.
View our Care Pairs flyer by scrolling down the PDF to the left! You can also view a PDF version of the flyer below.
Care Pairs Survey Results.pdfSee our Care Pairs Program in action with the image carousels below! Below to the left you'll find pictures of our past Care Pair Program in action. Below on the right, you can see our most recent pictures from our Care Pairs Program that was conducted this past summer at various elementary schools!
Peer to Peer Prevention Education
Funded out of TUPE, our Peer to Peer Prevention Education program is both a youth development activity and a prevention activity. Teens at participating high schools work together to learn about the harmful effects of tobacco and vaping, develop skills in advocacy, and encourage their peers to avoid substance misuse and make healthy choices.
The Peer to Peer program amplifies student voice as our students actively participate in their schools and communities, promoting drug prevention and healthy choices by putting forward their own views, concerns, and ideas.
In the 2022-2023 school year, the Peer to Peer program was based at Calvine High School, Valley High School, and Franklin High School. During this school year, our Peer to Peer groups took active roles on their respective campuses during Red Ribbon Week, promoted positive school culture, and connected with their community by presenting on the risks and trends of tobacco use to a total of 6 elementary schools' 6th grade classes.
YDO is so proud of their advocacy and dedication to promoting healthy choices among their younger peers.
Youth Action Project
The long-standing and much-loved Middle School Leadership Conference had to necessarily be revamped post-COVID. Our new middle school conference, The Youth Action Project (YAP), is in the humble beginning stages. YAP is founded on the principles of peer leadership. We stress the importance of empowering youth to take action to identify and then work to solve a "problem" or un-met need at their schools.
In the spring of 2023, YDO was able to to pilot the program in partnership with Edward Harris Middle School, Katherine Albiani Middle School, and Samuel Jackman Middle School.
Our theme was "Swipe Away Stigma" and focused on addressing the ways that social media can affect the way youth view themselves and treat others, and empowering youth to counteract the negativity with positive actions and activities at their respective schools. To the right, you can see a couple of slides from our YAP Conference "Swipe Away Stigma" that we held in April 2023!
For the 2023-2024 school year, YDO was able to increase the program's capacity and invite students from all nine of our middle schools. YDO also structured this year's YAP to be a 2-part conference, with the first part being in November 2023 and the second part being in April 2024. By having a 2-part conference, students have adequate time to brainstorm and implement their action plans at their respective school sites, and present to their peers about the changes they implemented.
Our theme for this year is "Shine Your Light" to center mental wellness and show students how to shine their own lights through learning, growing, and empowering ourselves and others. Please take a look at our flyer to the right to get a visual of our theme!
YAP 2023 Welcome Slides 1,5.pdfYAP 23-24 Shine Your Light.pdfComing Soon: Powerful Attitude Collective
YDO is currently developing a middle school outreach program to supplement support systems for students suffering toxic stress and adverse experiences. Stay tuned for more information!
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