Communities Empowering Youth Curriculum

Communities Empowering Youth Curriculum is an extensive, ground-breaking program-guide, produced by Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County as a way to improve the lives of Santa Clara County’s most at-risk youth. It incorporates the issues of youth subcultures, describes the challenges of growing up as a first- or second-generation immigrant, touches on their disengagement from school and community, plus the draw and allure of life on the streets.

Complete with 30 group sessions, this Curriculum covers a wide range of topics dealing with identity and self-esteem, issues with which our youth struggle as they make their way in a world that for the most part does not value or understand them. Some sessions address life challenges such as the lack of positive role models and constant stress. Others cover basic health education as part of an effort to develop an attitude of self-respect and habits of self-care. While many other core sessions help youth take their first step toward envisioning and realizing a better future.

While Catholic Charities’ work with youth is respected on the local, regional, and state levels, this Curriculum had not been formalized until now. Through the Communities Empowering Youth (CEY) Program funded by the United Way Silicon Valley, we compiled and published this Curriculum for widespread, low-cost dissemination throughout the United States to reach other nationwide groups and organizations working with high risk youth.

Download the Communities Empowering Youth Curriculum (3.2mb).
Download the Communities Empowering Youth Curriculum (Spanish)

For additional information contact:
America Aguirre
408.283.6150
aaguirre@catholiccharitiesscc.org.