Cerritos College Receives CalHOSA Grant to Launch a Mental and Behavioral Health Pathway for High School Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2021
Media Contact: Aya Aoki; Public Affairs
Norwalk, Calif. – September 7, 2021 – The Cerritos College Foundation received a $25,000 grant from the California Department of Education in collaboration with Cal-HOSA, Inc. to support a mental and behavioral health pathway for high school students. The grant will allow Los Altos High School students to work toward a career in psychosocial recovery and rehabilitation by enrolling in the Cerritos College Mental Health Worker Program. The pathway will provide educational options for Los Altos High School students to obtain a Mental Health Worker certification. The funding will be used for program implementation and to provide financial assistance to students, including textbook and resource assistance, work-based learning travel support, and other program related costs.
"We are honored to receive the support from Cal-HOSA and thrilled to have the Los Altos High School students in our program. The Mental Health Worker Program has been successfully preparing students with valuable skills, and many of our alumni have secured employment in the field upon completion of the program," says Dr. Jaclyn Ronquillo-Adachi, chair of the Psychology Department.
The Cerritos College Office of Education Partnerships and Programs and Eva Munoz, academic counselor at Los Altos High School, have been an integral part in establishing the partnership. "We had a great number of students who were interested in this opportunity, said Munoz. “High school students are young, but they understand the importance of advocating for mental health. Our students are excited to take part in this opportunity to learn and acquire professional skills, as well as completing a certificate.”
For more information about the Mental Health Worker Program and the partnership, please contact Dr. Jaclyn Ronquillo-Adachi at jronquillo@cerritos.edu.
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