Project Abstract

California State University, Monterey Bay, has been awarded a grant of $148,830 from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

The yearlong grant will be used to develop a plan for helping Latino children in southern Santa Clara County who are dealing with family mental illness and substance abuse problems.

“The idea is to build consensus so that people in the community – residents and service providers – have a voice. Our role is to facilitate the coming together of these two groups. We want to make the resources that already exist accessible to people who need those resources,” said Jerry Endres, the project director at CSUMB’s Institute for Community Collaborative Studies.

“This program is unique in that the ‘clients’ have a role, they’ll provide consultation and decisions,” Endres explained. That input will help to identify needs, and overcome barriers to meeting those needs.

CSUMB is working to develop the plan with the Gilroy Family Resource Center, Resources for Families and Communities, the Department of Social Services and agencies that serve children and youth in southern Santa Clara County. The project evaluation is conducted by the University of Iowa’s Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice.

“We’re really excited about it,” said Gwen Westphal, Department of Social Services program manager in south Santa Clara County. “We have a large Latino population and this grant will help us find a way to better serve them.”

In announcing the grant, Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) said, “Everyone deserves the right to access government services. All too often, minorities can’t get the help they need because they don’t know where to go.”

After the plan is developed, the institute will apply for funds to put it into action.

CSUMB opened on Fort Ord property in the fall of 1995 with 650 students and 40 full-time faculty members. This spring, approximately 3,300 students are enrolled and the faculty has grown to 114 full-time members.

More information is available by calling Community Director Endres at 582-3624, or Westphal at (408) 846-4419.