Information for Parents / Guardians
Your child is being asked to take part in the project because Fresno County DBH wants to hear directly from youth who have been involved with the justice system to help improve programs and services.
If your child participates in this project, your child will participate in a 1-hour training session to learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are experiences that can negatively affect the lives of youth. Then, your child will join a 1-hour group discussion to talk with other youth their age about ways Fresno County DBH can help young people in Fresno County stay out of trouble with the law. We will provide a meal between the training and focus group.
If you agree for your child to participate in the project, they will take part in two sessions held in the same room.
Session One: Your child will participate in a one-hour training session where you will learn about stress, trauma, and Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs. These are tough or bad things that can happen to kids and affect their lives.
Break: Enjoy food.
Session Two: Your child will join a one-hour group discussion. During this session, your child will be able to:
Share and reflect about what they learned about ACEs.
Discuss ways how Fresno County DBH can better support kids involved with the justice system.
Your child will complete the sessions with about 10-12 other 15–17-year-olds. They will only need to participate once. Your child can stop participating at any time without any consequences.
Your child can also apply to be a Youth Facilitator and get trained to help lead the sessions if they are between the ages of 17-24. As a Youth Facilitator, your child will be trained to co-lead the trainings and focus groups. Youth facilitators can get $400 to do a training, get coaching, and co-lead sessions. They can lead as many sessions as they would like and can earn more for each session they do.