Student Support Services: Abriendo Caminos a la Comunidad

Mission

To assist youth in completing their middle or high school education while developing their character and responsibility as community members.

About Caminos

Caminos is a program for expelled youth and was originally formed by the SCCOE as a regional lead partnering with Santa Clara COE, Monterey COE, and the Volunteer Centers of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Silicon Valley. In 2005, the local chapter of Caminos was transitioned to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in partnership with UCSC. Caminos matches expelled youth with job related internships and service learning opportunities. The program is now funded through the California Gang Related Intervention Program (CalGRIP) administered by the Santa Cruz Workforce Investment Board (WIB) in partnership with the SCCOE and Santa Cruz Volunteer Center. The role of CalGRIP is to provide substantial alternatives for youth who are at-risk of gang involvement as well as those who are already marginally gang-involved. CalGRIP assists young people in obtaining the necesssary academic, employment, and life skills competencies that will enable them to become responsible and productive adults.

Caminos empowers suspended and expelled students through positive community service experiences. The program places these youth in volunteer positions that enhance vocational skills while fulfilling community service requirements for re-entry into the district schools. The youth also attend a six-week reflection cycle which provides them an opportunity to reflect on their community service experiences. The reflection meetings aid character development through activities that encourage respect, responsibility, caring and trust. Transitional support and case management provides Caminos youth with continual resources for future success.

Read a brochure about the Caminos program. (Acrobat Reader required.)

Click here for a summary of first year program evaluation and outcomes.

Mural Project, 2004

In 2004, Caminos partnered with members of the Sueños Collaborative and local mural artists to create the Caminos a Los Sueños del Futuro (Pathways to Future Dreams) mural project located at Watsonville Community School. The objective of the collaborative was to create a safe, engaging, constructive atmosphere for any youth interested in art and the mural process or photography and documentation. The Caminos a Los Sueños del Futuro mural project was an opportunity for youth to work on their community service hours while decreasing involvement in vandalism and delinquent behavior, and improving their attitudes about themselves, their future, and their community. Youth involved in making something beautiful today are less likely to turn to destruction tomorrow.

Read an article about the mural project published in the Register-Pajaronian August 3, 2004. (Acrobat Reader required.)

Links and Resources

Workforce Investment Board

Sueños

Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz

Community Action Board