PRO Youth and Families

Congratulations to our Summer at City Hall class of 2024! We’d like to thank the City of Rancho Cordova for giving young leaders a space to put their ideas forward and providing city internships in conjunction with the program this year! The youth also had the opportunity to tour the police department and several developing projects in the city and the Youth Center.

This Summer, the cohort’s proposal ideas included: establishing a new shopping center, an online hub to extend Healthcare access, a community compost center, a tree planting event, implementing AI-informed traffic safety measures, and a stipend program for unhoused veterans.

The youth worked very hard to develop these proposals and showcase what they’ve learned throughout the course of the program.

WE ARE HIRING! PRO Youth & Families is looking for an experienced office administrator with knowledge of QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, and excellent communication and organizational skills.

Under the direction of the CFO, the Finance and Operations Administrator is responsible for general oversight and the function of onsite office management and support to the CEO, CFO, and the Associate Director of Operations.

This is a full-time, in-person position in Sacramento, CA. Salary ranges from $24 to $29 per hour.

Visit https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3993640111/ for the full job description and to apply!

Calling Sacramento young adults ages 14-24: Join the first and only Behavioral Health Youth Advisory Board IN THE COUNTRY! Let your voice be heard and make a difference in your community by advocating & collaborating with county, state, and school systems to enhance access to mental health resources and services.

Apply now: https://bit.ly/BHYABapp

Disability Pride Month commemorates the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990! This month, we celebrate people with disabilities, their identities, and contributions. Disabilities come in many forms and are not always visible. The Disability Pride Flag, create by Ann Magill in 2019, represents and brings awareness to all disabilities, visible and non-visible.

At PRO Youth & Families, 3.6% of the youth we serve have a mental or physical disability. We seek to create an inclusive, empowering and accessible environment for all of our youth and are proud to celebrate the diversity and resilience of those with disabilities!

Partner spotlight: Queens of Eve! 📣 PRO is proud to partner with Queens Of Eve as part of our Youth & Family Collective initiative, where we work with local organizations in and around Sacramento to distribute funds that help youth learn valuable relationship skills and thrive.

Queens of Eve is committed to fostering a thriving community that prioritizes mental health, integrates social-emotional learning, and promotes a positive self-concept among young women — their unwavering dedication is empowering young women with the essential resources needed to achieve and maintain their optimal well-being.

Learn more about their mission and programming at www.QueensOfEve.net

July is National Minority Mental Health Month - a time to focus on the unique strengths and challenges that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) face when it comes to mental health. Here is some information from Mental Health America about BIPOC mental health:

“Whether it’s cultural beliefs, fear of judgment, or lack of access to information and resources, stigma can manifest itself in many ways. It can look different based on culture, family values, and community views. Mental health struggles can be viewed as personal failures or weakness in some communities, making seeking help more difficult.

Open and honest conversations, while respecting cultural beliefs, can break down barriers and prioritize mental health. Breaking the silence around mental health is crucial for healing.”

Source: https://mhanational.org/bipoc/mental-health-month

A testimonial from one of our youth who participated in the SPARK & LifeSkills programs! In these programs, youth learn substance-use prevention, goal setting, self-efficacy skills, and communication skills.

Through this programming, students are also given the opportunity to mentor younger students from nearby elementary and middle schools. Our team is looking forward to beginning these programs again with the coming school year!

PRO's own Sydney Saiya made an appearance on KCRA 3 last week to discuss the Behavioral Youth Advisory Board, which aims to amplify youth voices in shaping policies, practices, and programs that affect the behavioral health and wellbeing of Sacramento County's youth. Watch the interview here: https://www.kcra.com/article/sacramento-county-behavioral-health-youth-advisory-board/61571867

Summer programming: teaching healthy relationship skills and job readiness at Sacramento Job Corps! Program participants learned about what to look for in a potential partner, as well as interview skills to help prepare them to get their first job. Shout out to our amazing facilitators, Amy & Isahbelle!

This program was made possible by Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2021-ACF-ACYF-SR-1849 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Its contents are solely the responsibility of PRO Youth & Families and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services, administration for Children and Families.

92% of youth that have participated in our programs have reported that they now believe they have the power to make a difference in their community.

In 2023, PRO reached 3,000 youth with our mental wellness, relationship skills, substance use prevention, and civic engagement programs. With the help of our incredible facilitators and community partners, we are looking forward to continuing to inspire even more youth this year!

Visit proyouthandfamilies.org to learn more about our programs and our impact.

WE’RE HIRING! PRO Youth & Families is looking for a passionate individual to join our team as the Community Education Manager for our MindOneSix Mental Wellness Initiative. This position will work closely with the PRO team to coordinate and deliver PRO’s MindOneSix Mental Wellness facilitator training for adults and transitional age youth, providing ongoing facilitator support and technical assistance to facilitators and assisting in the design and implementation of new mental wellness training programs for diverse populations.

This is a full-time, hybrid position in Sacramento, requiring some regional travel. Salary ranges from $29.75 to $35 per hour.

Visit https://bit.ly/PRO-community-education-manager to see the full job description and to apply!

We’re still reeling from the good vibes at the first ever Hope Rises Here Youth Recognition Awards on June 20th! It was such a delight to gather together and celebrate some of our outstanding youth and community partners.

These youth were recognized for exemplifying the values of Hope, Belonging and Collaboration within our youth programs throughout the school year. We hope to see you there next year!

The Synergy Project is 100% funded by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The information shared in this post does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OPA/OASH/HHS.

In collaboration with our Youth & Family Collective partners, we have reached 358 youth with our Futures program: helping to prevent underage ma*****na use. 81% of youth who participated reported increased perception of the harm caused by underage ma*****na use and 95% reported an increase in prosocial behaviors and protective factors.

Visit our website: https://proyouthandfamilies.org to learn more about our youth programming! Join us in our mission to inspire, educate, and mobilize young people to build a healthier future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

June 19th, 1865 - Juneteenth - is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On this day we honor and remember the history of Black people in the US and recognize that the journey toward equality and ending racism in our country is ongoing still today.

Thanks to the members of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee for providing PRO with an informative presentation about Juneteenth, including recognizing influential Black figures in the history of the US.

The Youth & Family Collective (YFC) is an initiative by PRO Youth & Families that partners with other local nonprofit organizations to disseminate funds in order to create a more robust network of support for our youth and to meet community needs.

Through this initiative, we have had the opportunity to partner with many wonderful organizations and together have served thousands of youth in our community. This month, we are delighted to spotlight one of our YFC partners: the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.

The The Sacramento LGBT Community Center works to create a region where all LGBTQ+ people thrive; they support health and wellness, advocate for equity and justice, and work to uplift our diverse and culturally rich LGBTQ+ community. Partnering with PRO & the YFC, they have put on several different substance use prevention and healthy choice programs for youth since 2020 - and this is just a fraction of the work that the Center does.

Visit their website, saccenter.org, to learn more about the health & wellness, housing, job, advocacy and community building services that the Center offers.

Last month, our Youth & Family Collective (YFC) gathered virtually to celebrate the completion of the Love Notes program: a curriculum that equips youth between ages 12-18 with the skills and knowledge to help them build healthy relationships and make informed decisions.

Our YFC partners Escape Velocity Resource Foundation, INC., Feed Sacramento Homeless, Heal & Rebuild Collective, Hmong Youth and Parents United, and Queens Of Eve shared the youth voice video projects, created by the youth, demonstrating what they learned in the program. Swipe through this post for some images and quotes from the celebration!

The Synergy Project is 100% funded by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The information shared in this post does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OPA/OASH/HHS.

Supporting our youth in being their most authentic selves is the most powerful way we can help to protect their mental well-being. Our programs & facilitators work to foster safe environments and help all of our youth take pride in their mental health. 🌈

Join us in spreading awareness about mental health issues facing our LGBTQIA+ youth, and support our programs by donating via this link: https://bit.ly/ProYouthDonate 💚

Sources: and

Happy Pride Month! PRO is proud to serve & celebrate our LGBTQIA+ youth this month and every month as we work to inspire, educate, and mobilize young people to build a healthier future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Our mental wellness and relationship skills programs empower youth to embrace their identity, learn about open communication, and foster healthy relationships with others.

We envision a future where all LGBTQIA+ young people recognize their value, have access to support and opportunities, and believe in their power to be change-agents in their community.

Youth at City Hall is a civic engagement program that takes place at City Hall in the community of Rancho Cordova. Through this program, youth ages 13-18 are empowered to contribute to positive change in their communities. The youth participants created informational and educational presentations that offer solutions for how the City of Rancho Cordova can address youth concerns.

On May 24th, the youth brought forward several proposals including expanding pedestrian safety, creating a jog-a-thon to raise funds for local non-profits, and expanding cultural diversity in the community. They also proposed business plans for a gaming center and a used bookstore with an in-house cafe. Both of these businesses seek to expand more services and activities for youth within the city. Thank you to the city of Rancho Cordova for giving voice to our youth and empowering them as young leaders.

Throughout this Mental Health Awareness Month, we highlighted many mental health tips, digital resources, and facts. To conclude, here are the various mental health services that exist in Sacramento. Swipe to the end to view all services!

Though Mental Health Awareness Month ends today, we are committed to continually caring for the mental health and holistic health needs of our youth. View our Resource Binder, which includes resources within the greater Sacramento region:https://ugc.production.linktr.ee/7b92361d-e78a-47ca-87e1-537a18777796_Resource-Binder.pdf

Deadline extended - apply by June 2!

Attention Rancho Cordova youth: Join your peers this Summer at City Hall for a 4-week program where you will connect with local leaders, partake in city tours, gain professional skills, make a difference in your community, and earn a stipend!

Must be 13-18 years old and a Rancho Cordova resident to participate.

Mandatory orientation: June 28, 10am - 12pm
Program dates: Monday - Thursday each week from July 8 - August 1, 10am - 12pm each day

If you’re interested, please apply by June 2, 2024 using this link: bit.ly/SummeratCityHall2024

For more information, please contact Nick Soliz at [email protected]

"The more we learn about the origin of the United States of America, the better we can understand the diversity of our country." -- Dexter Niskala, PRO Youth & Families

Thank you to Dexter & our other PRO staff members for sharing your perspectives with us this month for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! May we all continue to learn about and appreciate the diverse cultures that make up our communities.

To support youth in their mental health and well-being, it is crucial to stay informed on the most up-to-date statistics around youth mental health. Check out these Fast Facts from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Alliance on Mental Illness!

Be on the look out for our final Mental Health Awareness Month post next week, which will highlight the plethora of mental health services and resources in the Greater Sacramento region.

"AANHPI month is an amazing opportunity because it allows the traditions of various cultures to be highlighted and showcased, when historically they were not always celebrated." -- Kristy Mustra, PRO Youth & Families

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! We're excited to continue highlighting some of our wonderful AANHPI staff members.

Attention Rancho Cordova youth: Join your peers this Summer at City Hall for a 4-week program where you will connect with local leaders, partake in city tours, gain professional skills, make a difference in your community, and earn a stipend!

Must be 13-18 years old and a Rancho Cordova resident to participate.

Mandatory orientation: June 28, 10am - 12pm
Program dates: Monday - Thursday each week from July 8 - August 1, 10am - 12pm each day

If you’re interested, please apply by May 31, 2024 using this link: bit.ly/SummeratCityHall2024

For more information, please contact Nick Soliz at [email protected]

May is National Adolescent Health Month! Swipe through this post to test your knowledge on adolescent and youth health. To learn more, visit opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health, where you can find additional resources and topics.

The Synergy Project is supported by Grant Number TP1AH000299-01-00 from the HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA). Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of Population Affairs.

“AANHPI Heritage month is an important month for acknowledging the contributions of early AANHPI pioneers (especially because they endured the most discrimination and racism) & celebrating the beautiful and diverse cultures that have come from these populations.”
-- Carmen Huang, PRO Youth & Families

Stay tuned this week and next as we highlight PRO staff members representing various cultural backgrounds, sharing cherished family traditions and reflecting on the intersections of their cultural identities.

There are various free digital tools that you can utilize to tend to your mental health and well-being needs! Scout by Sutter Health and Soluna by Kooth Digital Health and California Department of Health Care Services are free applications catered to youth. Swipe to learn about the key features of each application.

Stayed tuned this month as we share additional resources and statistics around mental health!

To prevent substance abuse, it is important to first stay aware and informed! Swipe to learn how ma*****na, alcohol, and general substance use affects youth and adults.

It’s okay to ask for help. Visit SAMHSA.gov/young-adults or call
1-800-662-HELP (4357) for treatment referral.

It’s National Prevention week! Here are some projects from our cohorts where we teach a prevention curriculum to youth ages 12 to 18. The youth use these projects to put into practice the information they learned from the program.

Thank you to our Sacramento County prevention education partners for the incredible work they do for our youth: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), Sacramento County Coalition for Youth, Omni Youth Programs Be Bothered Movement and Center for Collaborative Planning.