Following an assessment, local organizations will release key recommendations to improve mental health services and substance abuse prevention for Latino youth and families in San Mateo County.
The community launch of the annual assessment will share key findings and data on how to prioritize recommendations for implementation.
Although Latinos represent approximately a quarter (24 percent) of the county's population, this was the first time that an evaluation was driven by and for the community.
Community organizations such as Helping Latinos Dream (WINGS), The Council, Our House and Latino-led partner organizations in San Mateo County provided the survey where participants could feel safe sharing confidentially to effect positive change.
The presentation of the recommendations will take place next Tuesday, October 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Fair Oaks Community Center, located at 2600 Middlefield Road, in Redwood City.
The event, which is expected to attract more than 100 people, will feature presentations by community leaders, a cultural exhibition of youth folkloric ballet, a community debate to prioritize the next steps, refreshments (taco stands), and a raffle of prizes.
The meeting will be held in Spanish with English interpretation provided by Thrive Alliance.
It is worth noting that a total of 481 surveys were collected, 123 of them from young people and 358 from adults. In addition, 117 people participated in focus groups and interviews.
Participants ranged in age from 12 to 65 years or older, with a slight majority between 35 and 44 years old (20 percent). Twenty-seven percent were from Redwood City and Fair Oaks, 24 percent from San Mateo/Peninsula, 24 percent from Half Moon Bay/Coast, and 7 percent from East Palo Alto.
The goal was to learn more about the factors that may influence substance use, sadness, depression, and well-being in the Latino community, and ultimately make recommendations to the county on how to better prevent future substance use and improve the mental health of Latino residents.
Findings from this assessment include recommendations to address financial challenges to help families survive and thrive in this economy and reduce economic barriers to accessing mental health and substance abuse services.
The recommendations also call for providing and creating intentional outreach for culturally appropriate services that are available and accessible, supporting youth-driven and family-centered programs and activities, and building capacity for existing providers to serve greater numbers of Latino youth and families.
The evaluation was funded by a grant from San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services with support from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.
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