Health nonprofit outlines youth programs, grants for Parlier schools

Representatives of the California Health Collaborative presented a program overview to the Parlier City Council on Dec. 7, describing two decades of work in the city and current efforts in youth development, tobacco prevention and trauma-informed programming.

Project director Eric Rangel and colleagues detailed three active programs serving Parlier students: Growing Resilience Through Outdoor Wellness (GROW), a tobacco-prevention program in collaboration with county partners and a youth diversion program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice called Youth RISE. Rangel said the organization’s headquarters are in Fresno and that staff have operated in Parlier for more than 25 years.

The presenters summarized program goals — leadership development, outdoor engagement, substance-use prevention, and restorative, trauma-informed interventions — and highlighted a proposed public-health-and-safety grant funded through Proposition 64 aimed at youth cannabis prevention and early intervention. Staff also noted a stipend for youth ambassadors ($300 annually) and provided contact information for follow-up with city staff and the school district.

Why it matters: The programs target prevention and youth engagement in Parlier and nearby Central Valley communities and include partnerships with Parlier Unified School District and local NJROTC. Council members thanked the presenters and asked staff to share materials and follow up on an earlier website error the council had noticed.

What the record shows: The presentation included program history, funders (California Natural Resources Agency for the outdoor program), program activities and an invitation to coordinate further with city staff and schools. Presenters responded to a mayoral question about outdated web information and said the organization was updating its site.