Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth Cross Sector Initiative

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2019

The Center for Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) is a division of Health Care Services Agency, Alameda County's local health authority. Since 1996, we have worked with schools, public agencies, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, youth, families, and policymakers to implement school health strategies that support children's health, well-being, and academic success. As part of our work with schools and districts to build health and wellness supports, in 2014, CHSC developed and implemented a targeted cross sector initiative for serving Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth (UIY). Alameda County has the second highest percentage of UIY in California and this number continues to rise. These young people have made the dangerous journey across borders to flee extreme violence in their home countries. As such, these children and youth make up a unique, vulnerable population with distinct health and mental well-being challenges. Through our unique partnerships, we are able to more quickly identify and reach out to UIY and link them with services that are both accessible and culturally responsive. Today, through the UIY Initiative, CHSC and our partners serve approximately 1,000 youth annually, providing them with essential, medical, behavioral and legal services to assist them through their transition into our Country.