In 2024, thanks to the South Bay community, we made real progress in empowering families, opening vital conversations, building a culture of support, and reducing the stigma around youth mental health. As we look ahead, our mission remains clear: to ensure South Bay families have access to evidence-based resources that help youth thrive. We are deeply grateful to our supporters, partners, and volunteers — together, we will continue strengthening the social and emotional wellness of K–12 students.
30,000 visitors to our online youth wellness programming and resources
41 Families Connected topic-driven webpages updated with new youth wellness content, including videos, blogs and trusted resources
17 in-person partnered community education events, including:
“Digital Safety and Screentime Management” with Adams Middle School PTA
“Screen Reset” with MBCC and Robinson Healthy Tech Group
“Overcoming Suicidal Ideation” with Pages Bookstore
“Trauma and Dysregulation” with A Home Within and Second Nurture (3 events)
“Dangers of Youth Substance Use and Fentanyl” (6 events)
“Screenagers: Elementary School Edition” (4 events)
“Screenagers Under the Influence”
We thank Beach Cities Health District, MBUSD, RBUSD and HBCSD for partnering with us on the eleven fentanyl education and Screenagers events listed directly above.
14 school-requested, on-campus youth wellness talks, provided by SBFC’s Outreach Coordinator, Kelly Hendrickson, R.N. Topics and locations included:
“Middle School Tool Kit for Parents” at Adams Middle School, Alta vista Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School and two Da Vinci Schools
“Anxiety vs. Feeling Anxious” to youth members of Amigos Unidos
“College Admissions Stress” for students and parents at two Da Vinci Schools
“Screens and Teens” to students and parents at National Charity League, South Bay
“Opioid Awareness and Substance Use Prevention”, for students at Penninsula High School and Palos Verdes High School
10 Families Connected Parent Chat support group virtual meetings
3 new Partner Schools and ongoing maintenance of existing partnerships
We are also happy to report our consistent ability to reach parents and drive engagement through production of our informative and free Families Connected newsletter, through our social media, and via our numerous long-term and new community partnerships.
Youth wellness issues 2024 - top 5 areas of focus
We remain on the pulse of emerging youth wellness topics via valued input from administrators at our 115 Partner Schools, from insightful students in our SBFC Youth Advisory, and from the dedicated parents in our Families Connected Parent Advisory. In 2024, they identified the following top five areas of focus:
Youth substance use prevention and fentanyl awareness
2024 Financials
Note: total expenses do not include the cost of the time donated by our SBFC Program Director.
Testimonial
“My name is Naya Elle James, and I serve as a 2025 SBFC Board Member. But more than that, I’m a parent who knows firsthand how vital this organization’s work is.
Since 2016, I’ve benefited from the Families Connected Parent Chat. And over the past few years, I’ve written openly about my own parenting journey—about what it’s like to nurture a young child through early anxiety, and what it meant to fight for my daughter’s life as she faced mental health challenges. These stories are deeply personal, but I share them because I believe in the power of connection. And I believe in what SBFC makes possible: a space for families to find strength, support, and hope—especially when things feel impossible.”
Ongoing parent support
Families Connected Partner Schools
Our Supporters
With gratitude, from our 2025 Board of Directors, SBFC Program Director, Community Outreach Coordinator and volunteers
South Bay Families Connected is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) corporation. Our Tax ID number is 83-2071741.