Prevention & Education

The Prevention & Education Department improves the quality of life in Gilroy and its schools by helping children and parents develop the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and skills that will help them avoid criminal behavior, gang involvement, truancy, and drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. Our vision is for all young people to grow up in safe, healthy, and supportive environments and develop the confidence and skills needed to successfully navigate challenging situations and grow to their full potential. Each Year, the Prevention & Education Department reaches over 2,500 children and parents through its wide array of prevention services.

Teen Moms Program

In the Teen Moms Program adolescent mothers learn about personal growth, future planning, health, child development, nutrition, budgeting and career development. The moms are provided with a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where teens come together with others who are experiencing the same situations. The group discussions and activities are focused on the distinct needs of the group. This group helps mothers become more self-sufficient, confident, and self-aware young women.

Young Moms Program

The Young Moms Program serves young parents who are at very great risk of becoming homeless due to extremely low or very low income. The three goals of the program are to give participants behavioral skills and knowledge to assist in the healthy development of their children, forge a network of relationships among residents that reduces isolation and provides mutual support, and empower participants with life skills that will assist them in pursuing and achieving personal goals.

RCS Family Workshops

RCS Family Workshops follow evidence-based practices, providing parents with effective ways to discipline their children in a positive and loving way. The instructors support the needs of each family attending and provide parents with new ideas and techniques that have been proven to work with children. On-site supervision is provided at no charge to families. Classes are available in Spanish or English and separate programs are available to parents of children of different ages.

RCS REACH Mentoring Program

The RCS REACH Mentoring Program seeks to improve young people's pro-social behaviors, academic achievement, and family and peer relationships. A program coordinator matches a carefully screened adult volunteer to a child with the expectation that a caring and supportive relationship will develop. The coordinator, in cooperation with a designated school liaison selects, monitors, and eventually closes the relationship with the volunteer and child, and communicates with the volunteer, parent/guardian, and the child throughout the matched relationship. Independent research has shown that the positive relationships between mentors and mentees have a direct, measurable, and lasting impact on children's lives. Mentees are less likely to begin using illegal drugs, consume alcohol, skip school and classes, or engage in acts of violence.They have greater self-esteem, confidence in their schoolwork performance, and get along better with their friends and families.

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LifeSkills Training (LST)

LifeSkills Training (LST) The LifeSkills Training Prevention Program consists of 15 classroom or small group meetings (approximately 45 minutes each) focusing on drug resistance, personal management, and social skills. An Institute of Medicine report summarizes the evidence for LifeSkills Training by stating that "Multiple studies over 25 years have demonstrated the effectiveness of the program when delivered by different providers, in different kinds of schools and for different kinds of students." Using outcomes averaged across more than a dozen studies conducted with LifeSkills Training, it has been found to cut alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use by 50% to 75%.

Step Up Small Group Services

Students are referred for Step Up small group services due to emerging behaviors that negatively affect their school performance, relationships, or personal well being. Topics include anger management, substance abuse, social skills, self-esteem and family and peer relationships. Step Up groups are led by trained facilitators and typically include 6 to 10 children or youth. The content of each small group draws from established curricula but is tailored to the needs of the individuals assigned to each group through consultation with school staff, assessment tools, and the expressed interests of the students themselves. Each group meets weekly for approximately eleven sessions and follows a pattern of trust building and needs assessment, skill building, and integration.

Binge Drinking Prevention Presentations

RCS presents a two-hour curriculum-based workshop on binge drinking to seniors in Gilroy High School. The goal is to raise awareness about binge drinking immediately prior to graduation celebrations, and students' departure for college where they may face pressure to participate in binge drinking. There is no fee for participation. RCS Prevention & Education Facilitators, who have child abuse clearances and are trained in the workshop materials, will offer instruction, activities and pre/post tests.

Family Workshops