The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project (SCVYP) is a local non-profit agency that works with youth in our valley to help them handle issues that might be getting in the way of them living happier lives. For the last six years, SCVYP has been providing support services to the high schools and to teens that are in need of a place to feel safe enough to share their innermost feelings.
The SCVYP offers students an opportunity to be in a nurturing environment, one that allows them to talk openly and honestly, without judgment and where they can gain the tools they need to live successful and fulfilling lives.
We provide peer mentoring, support groups, crisis intervention, classroom presentations, community outreach, public awareness and parent education. By way of referrals from counselors, parents, students and friends of students, we are able to meet the needs of thousands of kids in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Our peer mentoring program is unique in that we go to the students as opposed to them coming into an office or clinical setting. We meet with students each week on their campus and on their terms. They talk to us about issues that relate to grief/loss, anger, communication, abuse, drugs/alcohol, sex, girls/boys issues, family issues, relationships, goal setting, responsibility, etc. We help guide teens through difficult situations and hopefully, empower them to make strong and healthy decisions.
We also facilitate numerous support groups, which vary from campus to campus. Our group curriculums consist of anger/communication, teenage grief, girls issues, family issues, and families in transition. We can always tailor groups, to meet the needs of the campus.
The SCVYP provides crisis intervention by distributing FRY Cards to every high school student. Each wallet sized card has a list of “crisis numbers” they can call, if they find themselves in need; in turn, by flashing their FRY Card to any participating McDonald’s, they will receive free French fries.
Other innovative ways to reach teens, we offer “Lunchtime Madness,” an informal pizza party on campus, to help kids adjust to a new environment or become more social. We also offer classroom presentations, to teach teens about drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure, how to set and attain goals, job skills, etc. Again, this can be tailored to fit the specific needs of that particular campus or classroom.
Our website www.HelpNotHassle.org serves as an additional resource for parents, teachers, students, and counselors to seek out information about issues they might be too embarrassed to ask someone about, or just for increased knowledge. Our website reaches people all across this valley but also meets the needs of thousands of people all across the country and internationally as well. We handle inquiries from people as far as Australia and the United Kingdom.
Nobody is denied our attention; it’s ok to ask for help, we will be there.
For more information, to donate or for a referral, please call our offices at 661-257-YOUTH or visit us online, HelpNotHassle.org.