Schools + Parents
Beach Cities Partnership for Youth

Beach Cities Health District partners with South Bay Families Connected, the Hermosa Beach City School District, Manhattan Beach Unified School District and Redondo Beach Unified School District to deliver programs that measurably improve the health and well-being of students and families. While physical health in the Beach Cities continues to improve, there is a growing need in the student population to address mental health and well-being.


Upcoming Events

Join us for a free movie screening of “Screenagers: Under the Influence”

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) and South Bay Families Connected are partnering with Redondo Beach Unified School District to host a community showing of the documentary, “Screenagers: Under the Influence,” a film that delves into how the tech revolution has reshaped adolescence and its effects on substance use. 

Students and families are invited to attend an informative and entertaining film experience that focuses on practical solutions for keeping teens safe in a changing world. The film debunks myths and depicts strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits and create healthy home environments. The film also includes many ways young people are using their wisdom and strength to help each other and themselves through this complicated terrain around substance use. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to take home a free Narcan (common brand name of naloxone) kit. Naloxone is a life-saving opioid reversal medication when administered immediately after a potential opioid overdose. BCHD’s supply of naloxone is provided by the California Department of Health Care Services’ Naloxone Distribution Project. 

Event Details
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Parras Middle School, Multipurpose Room
200 N. Lucia Ave., Redondo Beach
6 – 7:30 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m.

South Bay students and families are welcome to attend.

REGISTER
Limited space, secure your spot today!

 

What I Wish My Parents Knew: Dangers of Youth Substance Use and Fentanyl  

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) and the Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Coalition is partnering with South Bay Families Connected and Hermosa Beach City School District to host an in-person event that will include a film screening of “Dead on Arrival,” a fentanyl documentary by Dominic Tierno and Christine Wood, followed by a panel discussion. This event is intended for parents and caregivers to hear from local young people who have lived experience with substance use. Young people from New Life House and Clarity Sober Living will share their recovery stories and what they wish their parents knew during that time. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a candid discussion with the panel to learn more about what they can do to better support the mental health of young people in their life. South Bay parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend.

Panelists:
Sebastian Martin, Executive Director of Operations at New Life House 
Brooke Juhasz, Program Director at Clarity Sober Living  

Naloxone (the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication) will be available for participants. BCHD’s supply of naloxone is provided by the California Health Care Services’ Naloxone Distribution Project.  

Thursday, April 11, 2024
6 – 7:30 p.m. 
Manhattan Beach Middle School
1501 N. Redondo Ave., Manhattan Beach
Multipurpose Room  
REGISTER HERE

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Adams Middle School
2600 Ripley Ave., Redondo Beach 
Multipurpose Room
REGISTER HERE


Beach Cities Health District is just one of more than 200 local partners in the Beach Cities Partnership for Youth that will be collaborating to achieve measurable outcomes in improving student mental health and well-being and reducing substance use. The Beach Cities Partnership for Youth is comprised of representatives from the following sectors:

  • Youth
  • Parents
  • Businesses
  • Media
  • Schools
  • Youth-serving organizations
  • Law enforcement
  • Civic and volunteer groups
  • Health care professionals
  • State, local or tribal agencies
  • Other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse
  • Religious or fraternal organizations

Since January 2017, Beach Cities Health District has convened five stakeholder groups to address student mental health and well-being:

Steering Committee: This group of community leaders will serve in an advisory capacity to guide the work of the Coalition and the Drug-Free Communities Grant.

  • Maggie Bove-LaMonica, Board Member, Hermosa Beach City School District
  • Byung Cho, Board Member, Redondo Beach Unified School District
  • Moe Gelbart, PhD, Executive Director, Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment, Torrance Memorial
  • Sylvia Gluck, Director of Administrative Services, Hermosa Beach City School District
  • Cathey Graves, President, Manhattan Beach Unified School District
  • Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, MBA, Professor and Chief, UCLA Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
  • Jason Kurtenbach, Executive Director of Student Services, Redondo Beach Unified School District
  • Paul LeBaron, Chief, Hermosa Beach Police Department
  • Rachel Lloyd, LMFT, Supervisor of Youth Mental Health Project, South Bay Children’s Health Center
  • Kristine Lloyd-Tangermann, Prevention Program Specialist, Substance Abuse Prevention & Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • Laura McIntire, Founder, South Bay Families Connected
  • Vanessa Poster, President, Beach Cities Health District Board of Directors
  • Kerry Riccio Aguero, Director of Student Services, Manhattan Beach Unified School District
  • Issac Yang, Division Chief, Redondo Beach Fire Department

*Student Representative will be appointed with Youth Advisory Council 2023-24

The Community Action Plan for Student Mental Health & Substance Use Prevention outlines key programs, partnerships and policies that are addressing these key health indicators. BCHD is just one of more than 200 local partners in the Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Coalition that are collaborating to achieve measurable outcomes.

Goals of the Community Action Plan

  • Decrease prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in teens
  • Decrease stress and bullying and improve social-emotional well-being of youth
  • Increase number of parents having conversations with their children about alcohol and drugs, social media, mental health and bullying
Red Ribbon Week

Beach Cities Health District and the Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Coalition are raising awareness about prevention of youth substance use during Substance Abuse Prevention Month in October and Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31.

Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Overview
Full Community Action Plan
Talk About It: Tips and Resources
Substance Use & Abuse
Beach Cities Partnership for Youth Coalition Awarded $625,000 Drug-Free Communities Grant