HYC Celebrates
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 - October 15
Hello Friends of HYC,

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15. This is a time to honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. This month is celebrated through different activities and experiences to bring awareness, greater understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the Hispanic culture and contributions to our country. At HYC, we proudly serve many Hispanic and Latinx youth and families through our behavioral health programs. Our youth who seek mental health services encounter significant mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts or plans, post-traumatic stress, self-harming behaviors, self-medication, and isolation. Latinx youth are often reluctant to access or receive mental health services due to the stigma associated with labels, fears, false beliefs, shame, fears of being seen at school accessing services, and lack of understanding by family or culture. This stigma often puts or youth at risk for increased substance use disorders and mental health difficulties. 
HYC is breaking the stigma with our Latinx population through our agency programs. Our clinicians work with our youth using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, processing fears, and identifying resources to make them feel safe, provide psycho-education, and normalize treatment. Under the HYC Family Preservation Program, we have our Promotora Progam designed to build a relationship with the family caregiver based on trust, rapport, and cultural respect. Our Promotoras provide education to the caregiver regarding mental health and help normalize their situation by explaining how mental health impacts them as caregivers, their children, and their overall family. The Promotoras walk with the caregiver through process by connecting and going with the caregiver to mutual support meetings, therapist appointments, clinics, etc. This program has helped build HYC’s capacity to reduce mental health stigma by expanding the spectrum and length of our home-based Family Preservation Program services. 

From a recent survey of our Promotora Program, clients who took a pre- and post-survey reported the following results.

  • 89% have demonstrated increased openness to talking about mental and emotional health and decreased acceptance of mental health stigma.

  • 81% have demonstrated increased understanding and practice of self-care activities related to improvements in mental health.

  • 86% have reported improvement in emotional well-being and/or family functioning.

These services and survey results are examples of how HYC is working to reduce mental health stigma, increase social connectedness, improve family functioning, and access mental health resources. HYC is committed to continuing to make it safe for everyone to talk about any issues impacting mental health, regardless of family or cultural beliefs.
Long Beach Gives!
Now through September 24, you can help support families in need by donating to HYC through the Long Beach Gives Campaign. Long Beach Gives is a 24-hour online fundraising campaign to support nonprofits making an impact in Long Beach! HYC is proud to be one of those nonprofits. You can help us reach our goal of $8,000 and donate to HYC through our Long Beach Gives page. Visit the Long Beach Gives website by clicking the button below. Your support is much appreciated, and we thank you for helping us be there for vulnerable children! 
DON"T FORGET! The deadline to respond to the Census is September 30! Complete your household information today by going to www.my2020census.gov. 

By being counted, you can help your community get the deserved funding for programs such as healthcare services, emergency services, affordable housing, childcare, schools, and more! Starting in September, if you have not filled out your Census forms, additional mailers will be sent out, and a Census representative may contact you. Your community is counting on you! 
Let's continue to do our part to stay safe and healthy! The risk remains high and we must continue to follow the recommended guidelines. Please be sure you wear a cloth face mask to protect yourself and others when going out and refrain from large crowd gatherings. Be sure to use hand sanitizer or wash your hands when you are out and as soon as you get home. If you are sick or are experiencing any symptoms of illness, please stay home. To find out if you are eligible for a COVID-19 test, please visit the LA County website at covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/