Youth Empowerment Summit (Yes), Laura Wright

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Community Solutions is a non-profit agency that serves ages 0-100 in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. The Solutions to Violence Program operates out of Morgan Hill and houses the CSEC and Human Trafficking Division where the capstone project was developed.The “Chill Room” was created at Community Solutions as a part of the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) Conference in response to the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) within Santa Clara County. The YES Conference was created to enhance collaboration among community based, county, & non-profit organizations to provide a safe space for CSEC youth to process trauma. The conference …

Serving Youth In Santa Cruz County, Lorena Torres-Alvarez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Community Action Board (CAB) of Santa Cruz County is an agency that serves low-income under-resourced community members in the county. Through their Youth Homeless Response Team (YHRT) Program, they serve youth ages 15-24 who are currently at-risk or facing homelessness. Too many unaccompanied youths in Santa Cruz County are suffering from homelessness and are in need to accessing services. The lack of motivational and support system, along with the unemployment increasing at alarming rates. Illustrating a dark and unsafe future. Some of the consequences include pushing youth to live on the street or inside cars and being in a …

Incompetency To Stand Trial: An Informational Guide, Natalie Baur

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

At Monterey County Behavioral Health, we serve people with a variety of mental illnesses. They range from moderate to severe- whether it be schizophrenia or depression, we provide services that will help them deal with their symptoms. We strive to cultivate positive relationships in the community with our clients and contracted facilities. In this essay, I am going to talk about a certain population of who we serve: those who are found incompetent to stand trial and the toll it takes on them and their families. Moreover, I will be talking about the challenges and uncertainties that clients and their …

Implementing Homeless Youth Professional Development Workshops In Salinas, Mikayla Spooner

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The homeless population in Salinas has risen dramatically over the past few years, and child care workers consistently do not know how to serve homeless youth. My capstone project created a professional development workshop on homelessness in Salinas. This workshop was given at the Salinas YMCA for all child care staff. The point of this project was to inform child care professionals about how widespread homelessness is in Salinas. These professionals were able to identify how homelessness adversely affects the stages of development in children and families and how to better support them in child care settings. For child care …

End Of Life Care, Ana Mederos

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association is a non-profit agency that provides home health care as well as hospice care for individuals in the counties of Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara. In this region, the Latino/ Hispanic communities are underutilizing the services for end of life care. According to statistics provided by VNA 2019, only around 20% of the populations they serve are Latino/ Hispanics. Education on end of life care services is necessary for an individual to have a better understanding and quality of life during the end stage or confronted with a life limiting illness. In …

Understanding Barriers To Attending Food Distributions, Janell Jimenez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Second Harvest Food Bank provides food access to all of the population through Santa Cruz County. Too many people in the community are suffering from food insecurity due to lack of healthy meals, financial instability, and other living expenses not allowing them to purchase healthy meals. This lack of healthy meals which is leading to people at risk of serious health issues, development, and poor academics amongst children. Distribution sites and nutrition programs are provided on a daily basis at different locations and times of the day at no cost to the community However the number of participants has …

Providing Resources For Probationers, Behavioral Health And Substance Abuse, Crystal Rangel

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

San Benito County Probation Department is daily targeted by defendants having an issue with drugs, violations, domestic violence, battery, drug court, Post Release Community Supervision. The main issue is that the defendants relapse into drugs, which can sometimes lead themselves to committing a violation of probation. Due to a certain level of stress, depression and bad influence defendants sometimes make a bad decision and drug relapse or commit a violation. Which them leads them to incarceration, loss of family support and sometimes death because of a drug overdose. A Referral Resource Handout was created from different resources available in the …

Salud A La Salud Mental (A Toast To Mental Health), Arturo Rodriguez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Joven Noble is a youth-development and leadership enhancement curriculum within Sequoia High School in Watsonville, Ca. that recognizes adolescents need for guidance during their physical, emotional and spiritual development into adulthood by engaging them in conversations regarding topics such as teen pregnancy and substance abuse. One of the deficits of the program is the lack of discussion centered around mental health. Youth are more likely to experience mental health challenges during their adolescence that can impair their long term development. In Santa Cruz County, 5 per 1,000 children ages 5-19 were hospitalized for mental health crisis treatment in 2016; rates …

Blueprint For Shared Safety Strategic Plan, Reann Ramos

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Blueprint for Shared Safety strategic plan will be adopted by Santa Cruz County Community Corrections Partnership as a framework of principles and practices that community leaders can use to lead shared safety strategies. By shifting the focus from the traditional criminal justice system to investments that can truly make our communities safer, the Blueprint aims to re-envision public safety together. The Community Corrections Partnership Community Education and Engagement Workgroup (CCP CEEW) has conducted data analysis to identify the key assets and gaps in Santa Cruz County. After identifying the key assets and gaps there were recommendation review sessions that …

Ensuring Victims’ Rights And Inspiring Hope Through Community Collaboration, Evelyn Rodriguez Martinez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Numerous crime victims who qualify for Victim Witness Assistance Program services through the San Benito County District Attorney's office are not accessing the resources. Research done to support this project revealed that countless crime victims did not utilize the services offered by the program during the time of their victimization. The project conducted was an outreach presentation, which included all the services provided by the Victim Witness Assistance Program, victims’ legal rights, and the qualifications for the California Victim Compensation Board. The outreach presentation was developed to increase awareness of victims’ rights and the Victim Witness Assistance Program to community …

Nothing Down About It: Decreasing The Fear Of The Unknown For Mothers’ Expecting A Child With Down Syndrome, Alexandra E. Greenburg

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Down Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that is associated with an intellectual and developmental delay. This is because there is an extra full or partial copy of the 21st chromosome called Trisomy 21, which is diagnosed prenatally or at birth. Parents of children with Down syndrome felt that health professionals displayed a lack of understanding and ignorance when delivering their child’s Down syndrome diagnosis (Mengoni & Redman, 2018). This may lead to concerns on the child’s quality of life and hinder timely appropriate intervention services for a child with Down syndrome. This is why I conducted a workshop in Claremont, …

Merecemos Saber/ We Deserve To Know, Erika Arreola

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Safe Ag Safe Schools, a coalition of 50-plus organizations works with the community to reduce pesticide exposure in Monterey County. Although pesticides are used to kill and repel pests, pesticides put human health at risk. Despite the efforts addressing pesticides issues, Spanish speaking individuals are unaware of what those issues are. Merecemos Saber/ We Deserve to Know is an educational intervention aimed to increase Spanish speaking individuals’ knowledge and awareness about pesticide issues. This project included an educational intervention, mapping of expected pesticide applications near Greenfield schools, and a presentation conducted at the Community Forum on Pesticides in Greenfield City …

Analysis Of Social Services Available To Seniors In Monterey County, Marijeanne Santina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As America’s geriatric population increases due to the Baby Boomer generation getting older, it is crucial for sociologists to investigate the current social services available to the aging population. Increasing longevity of older adults means focusing promoting health, wellbeing and independence through different services and promoting a positive perspective of seniors by general society. The focus of this research is to examine the current geriatric resources available to seniors in Monterey County. My research question is: “To what extent are the current social services available to seniors fulfilling the needs of the community?” I would like to assess the current …

Effectiveness Of Inmate Labor Programs: A Case Study Of Marion County's Inmate Work Farm, Cassie Beck

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This research project explores the topic of prison labor in the United States. The aim is to analyze the both the strengths and weaknesses of inmate labor programs. In addition, this project examines the effect that these programs have on both the prison itself and the inmates that participate. It analyzes Marion County’s Inmate Work Farm in order to investigate how helpful or harmful this program is to the inmates and the community that surrounds it. This project uses several different theoretical concepts to further explain the topic including Michele Foucault’s concept of power as well as the concept of …

Women Faculty Of Color, Higher Education, And Sociocultural Change, Luz Areli Medina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone will focus on women faculty of color who are underrepresented in faculty positions in predominantly white institutions. Although not all women faculty of color experience discriminatory treatment we can not ignore the lived experiences of these women who are in a disadvantage within academia. The lack of diversification, unequal representation, and socio-cultural understanding prompts society to take a closer insight to determine the necessary steps in facilitating institutional change within higher education. In order to promote equality for women faculty of color I recommend changing the institutionalized policies, developing quality support and mentoring groups in order to hinder …

Increasing Adult's Awareness Of The Importance Of End-Of-Life Care Discussions, Taylor Gardner

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For many American families, end-of-life care is often not discussed, until advanced illness or injury has fully disrupted everyday life. There are many benefits to discussing end-of-life care prior to any medical complications. Research has shown that individuals who plan their end-of-life processes with a hospice service provider and family members report a higher quality of death than individuals receiving common health care during their final six months of life. In order to make families and friends more comfortable with end-of-life discussions, I will conduct two one-hour educational sessions to students at California State University, Monterey Bay.

California Rural Legal Assistance Employment Education Outreach Project, Daisy Leon Melendrez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

California Rural Legal Assistance is a nonprofit law firm that provides no cost legal services to low-income individuals in Santa Cruz County. The social problem is that too many workers face employment rights violations. The agency problem is a reduction in the number of people seeking employment legal services from CRLA. This outreach project focused on spreading awareness of CRLA’s employment legal services by attending local grocery stores and farmer’s market, with the purpose of promoting agency’s services to the community. Agency materials were distrusted and a questionnaire was used to determine why people are not seeking CRLA legal services. …

Implementation Of The Drug Medi Cal Organized Delivery System In An Outpatient Sud Rehabilitation Agency, Casie Greene

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

A new funding strategy called the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) has been implemented in Santa Cruz County in efforts to combat the rising Substance Use Disorder (SUD) epidemic in the community. This system increases access to treatment services in hopes of decreasing the harmful effects of substance abuse in communities. The program aids in efforts to reduce barriers accessing care and show the people in the community the importance of and whole person care. This capstone project consisted of the implementation process of a system evaluation aligned with DMC-ODS at Sobriety Works, using data collection and analysis to …

Greek Affiliation As A Contributing Factor To College Academic Success: A Case Study, Michaela Reuben

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This study explores how an individual’s college academic success can be impacted by affiliation with a Greek organization. This research analyzes how Greek-affiliated students compare academically to non-Greek students, how the bonds between an individual and their Greek organization impact the academic success of the average individual, and the methods of academic support that Greek organizations provide to its members. Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory is utilized as a framework of analysis. According to this theory, individuals who identify as being a member of a group adopt the behaviors and values of the group. Because Greek organizations implement some form …

Increasing Awareness Of Legal Services And Tenant Rights In Watsonville, Ana Laura Partida Lopez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

California Rural Legal Assistance is a non-profit that works with marginalized communities such as people who are of low income, farm workers, and those with disabilities, school children, seniors, and those are a part of the LGBT community. Marginalized people most often get taken advantage of and are afraid to ask for help. The housing crisis in the Santa Cruz County has led many to endure harsh living conditions despite this; CRLA has a stagnant rate of people going into the office for consultations. The outreach project was about conducting a survey in the community to find out how aware …

Empowerment Workshop: Helping End The Cycle Of Domestic Violence, Brianna Caitlin Anderson

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The YWCA of Monterey County services victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Currently too many victims of Domestic Violence cannot leave the cycle of abuse. While there are many reasons for this problem, this project focused on the fact that domestic violence victims cannot escape being controlled because they lack the power to become independent. The capstone project consisted of the development and implementation of a series of empowerment workshops to help clients break the cycle of domestic violence. Surveys collected at the end of each workshop were used to asses if participants had a change in self-esteem. The …

Developing Information On Mental Health And Counseling Services, Katherine Bustamante

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Taylor Farms Center for Learning (TFCFL) is an afterschool program, which is located in East Salinas, serving primarily 76% of Hispanic and Latino children and families. Providing various programs to break down barriers for children to experience success. Every year in the United States, up to 20% of children and youth experience a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder but nearly half of all children receive no mental health services. Due to this few agency-sponsored services address this health issue and TFCFL wants to make sure they are offering the right kind of services for their community. This research project will …

Bridge To Inclusion: Honoring Insight From Families With Lived Experience Of Homelessness, Lindsay Peterson

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Historically, impoverished families face ridicule and stigma. There is a tendency to blame those who are disadvantage rather than considering the socio-economic inequalities impacting the affordability of stable housing. Thus resulting in a lack of opportunities for meaningful input from those with lived experience. Rebele Family Shelter (RFS) provides emergency shelter for Santa Cruz County residents. RFS staff provide support and coordination of resources toward permanent stable housing. Families at RFS have limited opportunities to contribute to program strategies or voice opinions on policies. Implementing a family satisfaction survey with RFS clients creates an opportunity for families with lived experience …

A Comparative Analysis Between The Voting Patterns Of Csumb Students And Nationwide Voters, Ages 18-24, Selena Corona

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The purpose of this capstone is to evaluate if CSUMB students, ages 18-24, follow the historically low voting and low voter registration patterns of other U.S. voters, ages 18-24. The study will draw on the theory of political information efficacy in order to analyze why young voters, ages 18-24, are less likely to vote in federal and state elections. My methodology for this study included using both qualitative and quantitative methods. I created an online survey to critically analyze why young adults from 18 to 24 years old vote in significantly fewer numbers than voters over the age of 64. …

Evaluating Father Involvement In The Voluntary Family Maintenance And Reunification Process, Elizabeth Crescencio-Garduno

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

ACTION’s Community Case Management program works collaboratively with Monterey County Department of Social Services’ Family and Children Services’ Voluntary Family Maintenance and Voluntary Family Reunification unit, to keep children safe at home and out of the court system. Recurrent child maltreatment rates are too high in voluntary and court-ordered child protective services. Various factors contribute to father involvement and engagement in family stabilization efforts. This capstone was an exploratory research project that assessed father involvement in parent education services for families that were referred to voluntary child protective services in Monterey County. This project aimed to increase awareness on the …