YOR IV Project Name: Bridge to Wellness: Youth SUD Support & Treatment
Project Description: The Bridges to Wellness Program offers substance use disorder groups and individual sessions for youth ages 16-26 in the Shasta, Tehama, Butte and Sutter/Yuba areas, utilizing the evidenced-based 7-Challnges curriculum. The program is a community-based provider of overdose prevention tools, such as Narcan and Fentanyl Overdose Prevention and also provides community training on overdose prevention. The program supports:
• Low-barrier access to SUD treatment and life saving overdose prevention services, including Narcan distribution, fentanyl test strips, and overdose prevention education.
• Enhanced referral pathways and collaboration with juvenile probation, child welfare, and behavioral health providers to streamline access to services.
• Peer mentorship and youth leadership opportunities, ensuring youth voice and lived experience inform service delivery.
• Family engagement initiatives, including caregiver education sessions and support groups to promote sustained recovery and well-being.
• Financial sustainability through Medi-Cal & ECM enrollment, ensuring services remain accessible beyond the grant period.
Over the grant period, Bridge to Wellness will serve 400+ youth across the three counties, providing comprehensive SUD treatment, early intervention, and recovery support. The initiative will reduce barriers to care, expand life saving overdose prevention resources, and strengthen long-term recovery pathways through community-based partnerships and sustainable funding mechanisms.
Partner Agencies: Shasta Co. Behavioral Health, Tehama Co. Behavioral Health, Sutter Co. Behavioral Health, Shasta, Tehama, and Sutter Co. Child Welfare Services, NorCal Outreach & Stonewall, Karuk Tribe, Tehama Co. School District, Co. Probation Departments
Primary Contact:
Name: Shannon Pierce
Position: President & CEO
Email: spierce@childrenfirstffa.com
Phone: 530-528-2938
Website: www.childrenfirstffa.com