  .jpg "Support-Help-Assistance") .jpg "Depression") .jpg "Drugs & Alcohol") The following resources are community-based counseling, drug, alcohol and mental health services that may assist parents with possible options for addressing non-school related concerns. Please note that these resources are not educationally-related services, special education, or designated instruction and services as defined under the Education Code, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE: Thirteen Ventura County social services agencies can be accessed at this link. They include such groups such as the Conejo Free Clinic, Hospice of the Conejo Valley, Senior Concerns and Youth Employment Services. Three government social service agencies are also tenants including the Social Service Administration, Probation Youth Services and WIC Nutrition Program.
- DMV FOR TEENS: An informational website regarding the new driving laws for teens as well as a wealth of resources on driver education/training, insurance, financial responsibility, drug and alcohol use, effects and consequences; study materials etc...
- GIRLS EMPOWERMENT CENTER: (GEC) is a small registered nonprofit organization devoted to empowering the development of girls in the Conejo Valley. The goal of this organization is to act as a buffer against societal influences and provide a safe and nurturing place for girls to mature. Call 805-341-5735 or visit the website by clicking the link above.
- VENTURA COUNTY "INTERFACE" HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ONLINE: an integrated component of the County Health Care system, to promote resiliency, recovery, and hope for their clients.
- VENTURA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION sponsors a Comprehensive Health and Prevention Programs website for Parents and Teens.
DRUGS & ALCOHOL
- ENGAGE TREATMENT PROGRAMS: Engage Treatment Programs supports local teens and young adults in the community, helping them learn the skills and tools necessary in order to live a more healthy and satisfying the life. Engage clients enter our programs seeking guidance at one of the most difficult or challenging times in their lives. Our clients leave not only with the necessary tools to make their goals as a reality but with hope for a bright future to Fully ENGAGE in life.
- JUST THINK TWICE: This is a DEA sponsored website with comprehensive, and current drug information.
- MONTANA METH PROJECT: Montana Meth Project is a large-scale prevention program aimed at significantly reducing first-time meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach.
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (NIDA)
- STRYVE is a national initiative, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which takes a public health approach to preventing youth violence before it starts. To support this effort, STRYVE Online provides communities with the knowledge and resources to be successful in preventing youth violence.
- (SAMHSA) Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration.
- TRANSITIONS SUPPORT GROUP aims to support families with older children and young adults (aged 11-28) and young adults aged 16-28 who are transitioning into middle school, into high school, into college, post-secondary or the workforce. Discussion focuses on planning for and transitioning to adulthood, including school, work, social, behavior, life skills, community integration and services and topics suggested by the participants.
SUICIDE PREVENTION & GRIEF SUPPORT
 OUR HOUSE is a leading provider of grief education, offering workshops, seminars, and in-service training to mental health and medical professionals, clergy, educators, and other members of the community who interact with bereaved families.The OUR HOUSE grief education program is part of the curricula for students at USC’s Keck and UCLA’s David Geffen Schools of Medicine and the American Jewish University. For more information go to link above.
SUICIDE IS PREVENTABLE is a statewide suicide prevention social marketing campaign built on three key messages: Know the signs. Find the words. Reach out. This campaign is intended to educate Californians how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to find the words to have a direct conversation with someone in crisis and where to find professional help and resources. For more information click on the link above.
 MY3 LETS YOU STAY CONNECTED WHEN YOU ARE HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE With MY3, you define your network and your plan to stay safe. With MY3 you can be prepared to help yourself and reach out to others when you are having thoughts of suicide. The App is downloadable from the Apple Store, and Google Play. To access, the website click the link above.  UNDERSTANDING SUICIDE PREVENTION The BestColleges.com website contains a myriad of resource to help understand how the transition from high school to college causes many young people to contemplate suicide. Also has a section on 10 Things To Look For In A Mental-Health-Friendly College. To access this website click on the link above.
CRISIS HOTLINES 2-1-1 provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. For example, 2-1-1 can offer access to the following types of services.Basic Human Needs Resource: food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance. Physical and Mental Health Resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, Children's Health Insurance Program, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation. Employment Supports: financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, education programs. Support for Children, Youth, and Families: childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services. Volunteer Opportunities and Donations. For more information, you can also go to their website by clicking the link above.  CRISIS TEXT LINE Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via the medium people already use and trust: text. Here’s how it works: Text START to 741741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool one.
 TEEN LINE is a confidential telephone helpline for teenaged callers. It operates every evening from 6:00pm to 10:00pm PST and is toll-free from anywhere in California. If you have a problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands, then this is the right place for you! You can call us at 800-852-8336 and even text us by texting “TEEN” to 839863. TEEN LINE also offers message boards, resources and information on their website which you can access by clicking the link above.  VENTURA COUNTY CRISIS HOTLINE This toll-free crisis number is the "access" line and "portal of entry" to Ventura County Behavioral Health. Crisis intervention and stabilization services are available to individuals who are experiencing an urgent or emergent mental health crisis. On a 24/7 basis, via mobile field response and/or by telephone, the multi-disciplinary Crisis Team staff provide rapid mental health services that are supportive and strength based in nature and that assist the individual to remain at the least restrictive level of care possible. For many of those calling upon the services of the Crisis Team, it is their first contact with mental health professionals. The follow-up, outreach, support and linkage to needed services are critical components of the Crisis Team's mission. Referrals are individually customized to ensure that appropriate cultural and linguistic needs are accommodated. To access mental health services, or for immediate help, please call 1-866-998-2243. Covenant House Nineline: Crisis intervention homeless assistance hotline & website. Counselors available 24hrs per day for crisis assistance of any kind call 1-800-999-9999 or go to the website by clicking the link above.
 Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. For more information go to The Trevor Project website. Our trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the Trevor Lifeline now at 866-488-7386.
Reality Parties for Parents Recently, Oak Park High School’s PFC, along with Straight Up Ventura County, sponsored a Reality Party. Reality Parties for Parents increase awareness and understanding of the dangerous culture of local teen drinking parties. If you haven’t attended a Reality Party yet, take a few minutes to watch the three-minute promo video created by Straight Up Youth. You can also see two local news segments about these events. Visit the Straight Up YouTube channel where six video pieces by or about Straight Up are available. Note that two Oak Park students participated in a recent Reality Party and are prominent in the video. http://youtube.com/straightupvc
Straight Up Ventura County
Straight Up is a youth development project that promotes social change regarding underage and binge drinking among 15 to 25-year-olds in Ventura County using improvisation and interactive performance/workshops with engaging discussion, exploration of issues, and the development of personal and community solutions to these problems. Straight Up is a project of Ventura County Limits and is made possible through funding from the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Alcohol and Drug Prevention Division.
Ventura County is embarking on a bold new countywide initiative to reduce underage and binge drinking. This is in response to growing public concern over the impact of alcohol on the lives of young people, and the alarming rates of binge-level drinking in the 15 to 25 age group in Ventura County. Learn more about this Community Partnership for Responsible Alcohol Policies & Practices.
For more information go to: www.venturacountylimits.org
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