Youth Mental Health Leadership Council

About

The Youth Mental Health Leadership Council is facilitated through a partnership between the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Monarch Services.  Our group is focused on breaking the stigmas that surround mental health issues, increasing access to mental health resources for youth across the county, and promoting holistic wellness practices for all. We believe that by empowering youth and their families with the tools they need to create healthy homes and lead happy lives together, we are also contributing to a more equitable, cooperative and thriving community.

Our students are committed to serving as leaders for social change through advocacy, civic engagement and collaboration for the benefit of all members of our society. 

Application

Want to join the Youth Mental Health Leadership Council? Fill out the short application form down below! We'd love to have your part of our Mental Health team!

Student applications are open for the 2024-25 school year. 

For more information, please feel free to reach out to Marisol Lopez at MarisolL@monarchscc.org, or Andres Ortiz at anortiz@santacruzcoe.org. 

Qualifications

Meetings

* Our orientation and first meeting of the 2024-25 school year will be on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 11am-2pm at Seabright State Beach/Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (1305 E Cliff Dr. Santa Cruz, CA 95062). At this meeting we will confirm our weekly meeting times and location. We will also take part in a beach cleanup facilitated by Save Our Shores!


Weekly Meetings - Tuesdays from 4:00-5:15pm, at all comprehensive high school campuses in Santa Cruz county (hybrid model)

YLLA Monthly Meetings - Generally the third Saturday of the month 11am-2pm with the other YLLA groups (In person only):


Projects

The Self-Care Booklet

This year, the Youth Mental Health Leadership Council created a Self-Care Booklet that includes various activities promoting personal wellness, grounding techniques, journal prompts, and information on why self-care is an essential part of maintaining good mental health. 

2023 Summer Leadership Camp

Facilitator

Marisol Lopez

Marisol has been working with our agency since 2016 and is a Watsonville native. She earned her BA in Sociology and Chicano studies from the University of California Davis and has been working with the youth in and out of our community for the past ten years. Marisol has moved into the Program Manager role in Children and Youth as well as overseeing our Community Outreach and Education program. Previously Marisol was our Senior Case Manager in the Children and Youth program where she was providing support to youth in a 1:1 capacity in the Watsonville office and in Pajaro Valley schools. Working in the children and youth program has been a blessing for Marisol, as she has worked with and watched so many of our youth grow and empower themselves and one another. Marisol sees herself continuing in this field and growing as a leader in our community through working directly with survivors on creating awareness around youth mental health needs, breaking cycles of violence, and establishing boundaries.