Social-Emotional Wellbeing

Our Three Pillars of Work and Related Strategies

At the 2023 Children’s Summit participants embarked on a process of identifying a focus for our work for the next 2-5 years. After many meetings and conversations, the Children’s Agenda Network decided our focus should be Social-Emotional Wellbeing, and therefore created the Social Emotional Wellness (SEW) Initiative. SEW is a structured, data-driven initiative program of Kids in Common's Children's Agenda, and 5-year action plan that collaboratively address the youth mental health crisis through three key pillars of work: Addressing Basic Needs, Cultivating Caring Communities, and Family & Community Education.

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SEW Youth Leadership Team: Youth Leaders of the SEW Initiative are part of the Youth Liberation Movement and The South County Youth Taskforce and meet monthly as a youth team, as well as meet monthly to co-chair their individual working groups to identify key actions and strategies that will move the work forward, develop an action plan, implement the action plan, evaluate progress, and make changes to the plan as needed.

Pillar 1: Cultivating Caring Communities

Youth Co-Chair: Aesha Sandoval, South County Youth Task Force

Co-Chair: Bernice Aguilera Toney, South County Youth Task Force

Co-Chair: Elizabeth Alvarez, Healthier Kids Foundation

Pillar 2: Addressing Basic Needs

Youth Co-Chair - Belen Reyes, Youth Liberation Movement

Co-Chair: Arcel Blume, Santa Clara County & Office of Children and Families Policy

Pillar 3: Education for Families & Communities

Youth Co-Chair: Liliana Martinez, Youth Liberation Movement

Youth Co-Chair: Viviana Martinez, Youth Liberation Movement

Pillar 1

Cultivating Caring Communities

In all settings, including schools, workplaces, libraries, etc., implement strategies that create caring spaces, with a focus on positive youth development and supportive of children’s and families’ social-emotional wellbeing.

WHY: Wellbeing starts with relationships, and with a positive youth development approach we can create caring schools, families, and communities.

Levers/Strategies

Cultivate a culture throughout Santa Clara County where children are seen, heard and loved by the adults in their lives.
Support schools as resource hubs for social-emotional wellbeing by providing counselors, school wellness centers, social workers, School Linked Services, Community School model, and parent partnership.
Ensure young people have opportunities and spaces – in & outside of school – that are free and accessible in order to develop their talents and access activities that bring them joy – or to just hang out.
Ensure positive youth development, restorative practices, and connection undergird education and other youth serving programs.
Ensure every young person has thriving developmental relationships such as mentors, coaches, and other adults.

Pillar 2

Address Basic Needs

Address the economic and social barriers that cause stress and affects the socialemotional wellbeing of young people, families and caregivers.

WHY: This is foundational to all issues we see with youth. If youth and families do not have their basic needs met, then it leads to other challenges.

Levers/Strategies

Support the implementation of and access to supplemental financial supports to children and families that will support their basic needs such as:
- Child tax credits.
- Housing, food, and transportation subsidies.
- Guaranteed Basic Income Programs.
- Access to affordable physical, dental, and behavioral health care.
Develop affordable, high quality early care and education for every child.
Provide opportunities for young people to earn income while they are in secondary and postsecondary education programs.

Pillar 3

Education for Families & Communities

Support programs that educate communities about the importance of social-emotional wellbeing, parenting for social-emotional wellbeing, & how to get help when needed. Focus on reducing negative stereotypes, bias and stigma around seeking help for behavioral health challenges.

WHY: Education deactivates the stigma associated with seeking help, can help connect people to services, and support healthy parenting.

Levers/Strategies

Invest in education and training in community and schools, giving parents and caregivers the tools that will help them support their children’s socialemotional wellbeing.
Create culturally responsive messaging and community campaigns that provide information about how to get help.
Support public education and messaging that deactivates the stigma that prevents children, youth, and families from seeking help for mental health challenges.