Community Connection of the Volunteer Center Santa Cruz

Community Connection is a nonprofit mental health program of the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County that serves adults and families referred through the Santa Cruz County Mental Health System of Care.

Our mission is "to assist and support adults with psychiatric disabilities and their families in achieving greater independence and improving the quality of their lives." We believe that each person that walks through our doors has a gift. Our job is to support them in discovering those gifts and reaching their full potential.

Participants have access to a variety of person-centered, strength based programs that provide pre-employment, employment, community integration and peer support services for individuals and families. Our programs offer tools and guidance in maintaining mental health wellness, sobriety and healthy lifestyle choices while connecting with their community.

Community Connection Programs

Peer work experience: Provides hands-on support that hires, trains, and supervises mental health consumers to work in paid and volunteer positions within CC.

The Avenues Program: Provides integrated recovery support for persons with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental illness, and emphasizes employment as a recovery tool.

The Housing Support Program: Offers employment support to individuals with mental illness who live independently.

College Connection: Is an educational support service for individuals with a mental health disability who are entering or re-entering college.

Prevention and Early Intervention: Provides education and employment support services for transition age youth and adults who are at risk of serious mental illness or suicide.

Opportunity Connection: Provides pre-employment, education and community integration support services.

Mariposa Wellness Center: Offers support services in South Santa Cruz County.

The Family Partnership Program: Provides peer support, education, referrals and grants for respite care to parents and caregivers of children and youth who receive mental health services.

The CalWorks Program: Supports parents to free themselves from the welfare system.

Career Services: Provides support and assistance to individuals referred through County Mental Health who are interested in gainful employment in the community.