Logo programa AWARE

MILLIONAIRE PROJECT LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN YOUTH

Nearly 2,000 participants from Arecibo, Bayamón, San Lorenzo, and San Juan will initially benefit from the project.

With an investment of over 4.5 million dollars in federal funds subsidized by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), the nonprofit community-based organization Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico (BGCPR), along with 13 allies, presented the AWARE project. The initiative is designed to build a sustainable infrastructure that will initially provide mental health programs and services in 5 schools in Arecibo, Bayamón, San Lorenzo, and San Juan, from a multi-level systemic perspective, in areas of childhood and youth well-being in Puerto Rico.

AWARE aims to develop strategic partnerships with the Department of Education, ASSMCA, community providers of mental health services, school personnel, community organizations, families, and youth. Its implementation focuses on advocacy, awareness, prevention, intervention, and resilience activities related to mental health, ensuring that school-aged youth have access to and are connected to appropriate and effective services. Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico seeks to promote healthy social and emotional development and prevent violence in school environments.

For the president of BGCPR, Olga Ramos Carrasquillo Esq., “For 56 years the organization, has been serving the most underserved communities from Mayagüez to Vieques, where 9 out of 10 of our participants live below federal poverty levels and in highly violent environments and communities. Our commitment to reducing poverty and improving their conditions and those of their families, led us to strategically elevate the promotion of socioemotional well-being. To achieve this, we underwent a process of multiple analyses and began by developing, structuring, and strengthening our social development component.

“In the process, we validated the need to develop socioemotional skills in our participants and their families to support coping with adverse childhood experiences, youth, and family trauma sequelae, exposure to violence, positive parenting skills, and emotional intelligence. This effort is directly linked to the educational aspect of our participants, as addressing their socioeconomic, socioemotional, and mental health needs from an inclusive and safe space impacts their academic achievement. Through this service approach, we are supporting our participants and their families in developing and

strengthening educational, economic, and social skills that increase their quality of life and ensure social mobility,” added Ramos Carrasquillo.

For the manager of BGCPR’s social pillar, Xavier Huertas, “our programs and educational, recreational, sports, and wellness experiences, as well as the socioemotional support and food assistance we offer to over 12,000 children and youth annually from our 18 service centers, have led to:

• 95% of our participants feeling that our centers reinforce their emotional security,

• 95% expressing that the experiences and learning with us help them maintain high expectations.

• 93% feel that they are heard and their ideas matter.

These data and the reality our youth are experiencing propelled us to provide them with the necessary tools to strengthen the socioemotional development they need as future leaders.”

“The AWARE project marks an important step in Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico’s commitment to youth mental health, being a core part of our strategic vision. Together with our 13 allies and those who will continue to join, we are building a healthier and more resilient future for our community,” added Huertas.

The project aims to:

• Increase awareness of mental health and psychosocial needs among school-aged youth.

• Increase mental health knowledge among those who interact with youth to detect signs and symptoms associated with mental health needs and substance use/abuse.

• Foster the creation of resilience and mental health well-being in all school-aged youth.

• Provide positive supports and intensive services according to individual needs.

• Connect youth with behavioral problems and their families with necessary services.

• Improve access to culturally relevant activities and services appropriate for trauma-informed development.

Allies: Department of Education, the Administration of Mental Health and Addiction Services (ASSMCA), the Institute of Psychotraumatology of Puerto Rico, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Albizu University, Estudios Técnicos, the Multi-sector Advisory Committee. The allied schools are: John W. Harris in Arecibo, José Campeche in San Lorenzo, Luis Llorens Torres in the Luis Llorens Torres housing complex, Papa Juan XXIII in Bayamón, and Manuel Elzaburu and Vizcarrondo in the Las Margaritas housing complex in Santurce.