YHE Programs & Services
Here's a list of some of the things we do...
Services
Presentations & Workshops: Through several programs, staff are able to provide one-time presentations on HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or multi-session workshops that focus on knowledge, skills-building, and behavior change for clients. All presentation/workshop requests should be made at least 2-4 weeks in advance, and be confirmed with YHE staff. For more information about workshops and presentations, contact Diane Brown at (562) 570-7930 or see program information below for a description of available workshops.
Staff Training: Youth Health Education is available to set up trainings for staff of agencies that work with youth. These trainings provide the background information needed for staff to integrate sexual health activities and information into existing services. For more information, contact Diane Brown at (562) 570-7930.
The Long Beach Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaborative: Through funding from the State of California Office of Family Planning, the City oversees the Long Beach Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Collaborative. Composed of staff from several youth-serving agencies including youth development, mentoring, medical, and education programs, the TPP Collaborative seeks to bring together agencies to facilitate a comprehensive approach to preventing pregnancy and promoting responsible parenting among teens and young adults in Long Beach. The group meets bi-annually, and meetings typically include some type of training, presentation of a local youth program, an update on Long Beach area TPP activities, and an opportunity for networking. To find out about the next meeting, please contact Sandy Wedgeworth at (562) 570-7925 or at sandy.wedgeworth@longbeach.gov.
Service Learning Opportunities: Service learning is a way for individuals to improve the Long Beach community by volunteering time and energy to and providing service to a particular need. Participation in service learning activities goes beyond providing service to the community, however, in that with service learning, participants reflect on their service experience and as a result, may work to create some sort of change. For example, a group of youth may decide to work with the local Tobacco Coalition after a beach clean-up where they found lots of cigarette butts. Health Education and the TPP Collaborative have established several opportunities for service learning for local youth. For more information, contact Sandy Wedgeworth at (562) 570-7925. Participation in Youth Health Education’s service learning activities may be counted towards the community service requirement at Long Beach Unified School District schools.
Programs
The Department of Health & Human Services (Health Department) Health Education Programs offer a variety of education & prevention programs designed to reduce rates of unintended pregnancy, HIV infection, and other sexually transmitted diseases among youth in Long Beach. Each of the programs provides information and helps youth build skills to keep them healthy.
The Long Beach/South Bay Community Health Education/Risk Reduction Program (HERR): HERR uses outreach, workshops, and one-on-one sessions to help individuals at highest risk of HIV infection change one or more risky behaviors. HERR focuses on three priority populations in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County – gay males, bisexual males, and women at sexual risk. Using a comprehensive approach, participants learn about HIV transmission, prevention, and testing; identify behaviors they feel are putting them at risk for HIV and other STDs; discuss relationships, drug use, norms, and stigma; and build skills around negotiation, condom use, and communication with partners. Funding for this program is provided by the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy. To learn more about the HERR program, please contact Veronica Morales at (562) 570-7911 or at veronica.morales@longbeach.gov.
PATHS (Peer Advocates Teaching Healthier Solutions) Program: The goal of the PATHS programs is to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and to promote responsible parenting in Long Beach. This program is designed for adolescents ages 14-18, pregnant and parenting teens, and parents. PATHS employs youth staff from Long Beach high schools and trains them to become peer advocates. The peer advocates provide a ten-series workshop for youth after school at sites easily accessible to high school students. Workshop topics include self-esteem, decision-making skills, values clarification, communication, reproductive anatomy, birth control methods, HIV & other STDs, condom use and negotiation, goal setting, and job skills. Funding for this program is provided through the California State Department of Health Services Office of Family Planning, Community Challenge Grants. For more information on the PATHS program, please contact Sandy Wedgeworth at (562) 570-7925 or at sandy.wedgeworth@longbeach.gov
CCG (Community Challenge Grant): CCG provides funding to several agencies in the Long Beach area for the provision of pregnancy prevention activities within their established programs. These agencies implement activities with youth such as mentoring, agency campaigns, and service learning. Their efforts are supported by the Health Department and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Collaborative, which meets quarterly and is composed of several community agencies. For more information on CCG, or to learn about upcoming TPP Collaborative meetings, please contact Sandy Wedgeworth at (562) 570-7925 or at sandy.wedgeworth@longbeach.gov.
SCIP (STD Community Interventions Program): SCIP is a statewide program funded by the State of California STD Control Branch aimed at building the capacity of community agencies to integrate STD information into their programs and services. Through SCIP, agencies may receive training and technical assistance from the Health Department and the California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center. For more information about SCIP, please contact Diane Brown at (562) 570-7930 or at diane.brown@longbeach.gov.
Mobile Youth Drop-In Center: The mobile drop-in center travels to various sites throughout the city so that youth can access a variety of risk-reduction services within their communities. Youth are able to “drop-in” and receive presentations on STDs, HIV, contraception, and other sexual health issues, participate in “rap” sessions on teen topics, get free condoms and lubricant, participate in one-on-one sessions with youth counselors, get referred to reproductive health services, be tested for STDs (on scheduled dates), or just hang out. Contact Diane Brown for more information at (562) 570-7930.
HIV/AIDS Education Classes
No pre-registration necessary. Registration is done on a first come first serve basis. Sessions are as follows:
2nd Tuesday of the month 5:30pm -7:30pm - SPANISH SPEAKING CLASS
Last Tuesday of the month 5:30pm - 7:30pm - ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASS
Cost: $30.00 Call 562-570-7916 for more information.
View Map [click here] for Directions.
Find out where the Mobile HIV Testing Unit will be by texting lbtest to 41411.
Other Health Department Programs & Services
STD Services/HIV testing 570-4320
Domestic Violence 570-4100
Black Infant Health 570-4410
WIC Program 570-4242
Immunization 570-4212
Tobacco Education 570-7950
Maternal & Child Health 800-832-2307
Role of Men 570-4441