Women Shelter of Long Beach, CA
The WSLB Youth Expansion Initiative is a transformative program designed to provide stability, guidance, and support to at-risk youth in Greater Long Beach who have been exposed to violence, with a special focus on underserved communities, including Cambodian youth. Building on WSLB’s successful youth programs, this initiative expands services to include direct crisis counseling, mental health support, victim advocacy, mentoring, educational assistance, and family-strengthening programs to address the emotional, social, and physical effects of trauma. Parents will also have access to educational programs to help them support their children and navigate mental health challenges.
Key components of the initiative include Building Healthy Relationships, an educational program teaching safe relationship skills in schools and communities, and the Youth Ambassador Program, a peer-led mentorship initiative empowering youth as leaders and role models. The project also prioritizes systems improvement and community engagement by fostering collaboration among youth-serving organizations, particularly Cambodian-focused agencies, to create a stronger network of culturally relevant support services. Together, these efforts aim to break the cycle of violence, promote healing, and empower young people and families to build safer, healthier futures.
