Current YOR 4 grantee

YOR IV Project Name: Lifesaving Information via Education by Youth Leaders (LIVE_YL)

Project Description: Building upon the findings and successes of YOR I, CHLA will deliver overdose prevention training, OUD/StUD education, and expand access to OUD/StUD treatment for youth 16 to 25 years old. The project will do this in partnership with schools, youth leaders, and healthcare providers guided by the Positive Youth Development Framework and life-saving overdose prevention principles. Through intentional outreach and education services at schools and in the South and Central Los Angeles communities, youth, families, and providers will have increased awareness of OUD/StUD resources to make successful linkages to care. By leveraging youth-adult partnerships and coalitions, the project will continue to expand education on lifesaving tools, such as Naloxone, and referral processes in the identified geographical locations for overdose prevention and OUD/StUD treatment, including MOUD/MStUD.

Partner Agencies: Alliance Dr. Olga Mohan High School, USC Hybrid High School, Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High School, Amino South Los Angeles Charter High School

YOR I Project Name: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Youth Opioid Response Project

Project Description: The Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Youth Opioid Response Project set out to increase youth access to substance use treatment services and increase provider efficacy in making timely and effective referrals to treatment. The project focused on high school students in Los Angeles and partnered closely with The L.A. Trust for Children’s Health and the National Center for Youth Law. CHLA worked closely with youth, providers, and subject matter experts to develop campaign materials and associated trainings covering topics such as youth access to confidential substance use treatment services, minor consent laws, OUDs, and MAT.  The project is guided by the values of the DAYAM, including the capacity of young people to achieve their goals and navigate life challenges and the importance of working toward sustainable improvements in the systems that support the health and well-being of young people.

Partner Agencies: The L.A. Trust for Children’s Health, National Center for Youth Law

Primary Contact:
Name: Jesus Escobar
Position: Supervisor, Programs Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine
Email: jeescobar@chla.us.edu
Phone: 323-361-2463 
Website: www.chla.org/adolescent-and-young-adult-medicine

YOR IV Project Name: Imperial County Behavioral Health Services – YOR 4

Project Description: Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) will utilize YOR California Round 4 grant funds to expand efforts addressing opioid and stimulant use disorders (OUD/StUD) among youth and young adults ages 16–25. The initiative will prioritize individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds, including Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, Asian, and Native American populations, as well as LGBTQIA2+ youth, those experiencing homelessness, justice-involved individuals, youth with co-occurring mental health conditions, and those aging out of foster care. ICBHS will provide prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services that are youth-centered, culturally responsive, and stigma-free. The program will also address social determinants of health (SDOH) such as poverty, housing instability, and language barriers while strengthening partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community-based organizations. Through education and outreach, ICBHS aims to reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and foster a compassionate, inclusive community that supports empowerment and sustained recovery across Imperial County.

Partner Agencies: Calexico Unified School District, Central Union High School District, Brawley Union High School District, Imperial Co. Office of Education

YOR III: Project Name: Imperial County Behavioral Health Services-YOR California

Project Description: ICBHS will utilize YOR California Round 3 grant funds to expand and strengthen outreach efforts to prevent overdoses, reduce emergency department visits, and diminish stigma associated with opioid and stimulant disorder among youth and young adults. Furthermore, ICBHS will focus on addressing the needs of individuals with risk factors that include school truancy, suspensions, involvement in the criminal justice system, experiencing co-occurring disorders, trauma or stigma, involved in the foster care system or aging out, undocumented, LGBTQIA2+ population, and experiencing family problems. Additionally, cultural issues, poverty, language barriers, and lack of education are also risk factors affecting Imperial County.  Services provided through the YOR California grant will promote the enhancement of collaborative relationships with community agencies and school districts that will enable prevention of overdoses and provide retention and successful treatment outcomes for individuals with SUD. These services will support youth and young adults with reintegrating back to the community for a sustained recovery.  

YOR II Project Name: Imperial County Behavioral Health Services-YOR California

Project Description: The Youth Opioid Response (YOR) grant is assisting youth and young adults ages 12 to 24 with opioid use and/or stimulant use disorders (OUD/StUDs) by enhancing the availability of treatment services. ICBHS is ensuring substance use disorder (SUD) services are responsive to youth and young adults, considering their family values, beliefs, norms, socio-economic, and cultural context. ICBHS’ mission is to provide high quality SUD treatment and outreach services to address youth and young adults with SUD and co-occurring disorders by respecting their individuality and cultural diversity. ICBHS provides a non-judgmental environment, which promotes independence and community integration for individuals with the support of family, peers, and the community.

YOR I Project Name: ICBHS Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program – YOR California

Project Description: The YOR California grant project focused on improving and expanding access to OUD and other SUD services that include prevention, treatment, interventions, MAT, and recovery to youth ages 12-24 and their families. ICBHS enhanced outreach and engagement activities by conducting presentations and education in all areas of Imperial County. The YOR California grant supported strengthening partnerships between ICBHS and other community agencies such as law enforcement, mental health, physical health, social services, education, and the LGBT Resource Center.  Activities focused on decreasing the stigma associated with addiction and will increase the support from the community and family members. Outreach and engagement activities were tailored to address the needs of youth and their families. Presentations were delivered for key community members, leaders, and agency directors and management.  These presentations focused on enhancing knowledge on OUD and other SUDs, the elimination of stigma and discrimination, and the need for increased support for the treatment of those in need within our community.

Primary Contacts:
Name: Diana Aguirre
Position: Project Director
Email: dianaaguirre@co.imperial.ca.us
Phone: 442-265-7908

Name: Victoria Mansfield         
Position: Deputy Director
Email: victoriamansfield@co.imperial.ca.us
Phone: 442-265-7909

Website: www.bhs.imperialcounty.org

YOR IV Project Name: YOR Monterey

Project Description: Building on the success and momentum of Door to Hope’s YOR I and YOR III projects, Door to Hope YOR IV will strengthen outreach, sustain proven strategies, and deepen family and community engagement. In partnership with key stakeholders, Door to Hope is committed to providing comprehensive outreach,identification, engagement, and intervention services to youth at risk for opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulantuse disorder (StUD) in Monterey County.

With the support of YOR I and YOR III funding , Door to Hope successfully increased youth engagement, expanded access to Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT), strengthened medical partnerships, and broadened outreach efforts to youth and their families. In YOR 4, we will continue to develop and sustain partnerships with key organizations, including The Epicenter, which serves high-risk foster youth, and local schools. By maintaining a focus on prevention, early intervention, and crisis care, we aim to reduce OUD/StUD rates among youth in Monterey County and ensure lasting, impactful change.

Partner Agencies: Monterey Co. Probation, North Salinas High School District, Vista Verde Middle School

YOR III Project Name: Door to Hope – YOR California

Project Description: To strengthen and expand youth SUD, OUD, and MAT capacity in Monterey County – Door to Hope has delivered targeted outreach to youth ages 12-24 with an OUD or at high-risk for an OUD by enhancing and positioning primary prevention to deliver outreach for at-risk youth in YOR . As well as enhanced/expanded licensed, CARF accredited SUD, co-occurring, and MAT treatment and recovery programs to vulnerable and marginalized youth and their families in age-appropriate, culturally competent, and trauma-informed treatment.

Door to Hope’s intent in YOR 3 to expand both access and the quality of existing services for our target population with OUD/StUDs through Youth Engagement at prevention, early intervention, and medical crisis points. The YOR 3 project develops partnerships and methodology to expand capacity, service delivery systems, and outreach through social media to reduce OUD/StUD among youth in Monterey County.

Partner Agencies: Your Social Marketer

Primary Contact:
Name: Chris Shannon     
Position: Executive Director
Phone: 831-758-0181
Email: chriss@doortohope.org
Website: www.doortohope.org