The Youth and Family Services YMCA announces the graduation of its first Parent Project class on Monday, November 15, at the Isla Vista Teen Center, 889 Camino Del Sur in Isla Vista. The Parent Project course, led by local counselor and Parent Project certified trainer Linda Güereña, helps reduce family conflict, improve school performance and attendance, identify and intervene with drug and alcohol abuse, intercede in negative peer associations (including gangs) and set more effective limits.

IVTC is celebrating 16 parents for their commitment and completion of the ten-week Parent Project series. 3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr will be on-hand to recognize the parents for their hard work and dedication. The graduation event begins at 6:30pm and will conclude at 8pm.

Linda Güereña has been a lead facilitator for Parent Project for the last six years and has trained over 1,000 parents during that time. She is a founding board member for the parent advocacy organization United Parents-Padres Unidos, and has served on the Council of the Cesar Chavez Leadership Institute.

In addition to programs like The Parent Project for parents, the Isla Vista Teen Center serves youth 6th -12th grade students from Isla Vista and Northern Goleta community. IVTC provides youth with a safe, alternative space to engage in a variety of educational, recreational, cultural and leadership opportunities. IVTC holds quarterly parent/community information nights and reaches out to engage families through various community events throughout the year.

The Youth and Family Services YMCA provides youth development and social services programming and opportunities to youth in the greater Santa Barbara and Goleta communities. In addition to serving over 175 youth and their family members in Isla Vista, Youth and Family Services operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter for runaway and homeless youth ages 10-17; Street Outreach and Support for youth ages 16-24 living on the streets; and the Transitional Age Youth Housing Program at Artisan Court for homeless former foster youth ages 18-21.

The Youth and Family Services YMCA is a branch of the Channel islands YMCA, a charitable organization of seven YMCA branches serving Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties including Camarillo Family YMCA, Ventura Family YMCA, Santa Barbara Family YMCA, Montecito Family YMCA, Lompoc Family YMCA, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, and YMCA Youth & Family Services.

The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to more than 4,000 low-income families for child care, YMCA memberships, away camps, youth sports, teen after-school-programs, and operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter and the Isla Vista Teen Center.

The Channel Islands YMCA is a charitable organization providing programs based upon Christian principles to men, women and children of all ages, races, religious beliefs and economic status to develop and enrich the spirit, mind and body.

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