Mission-driven programming - free and accessible to all

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 every family has 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-emotional wellness of K–12 students.

  • 35,000 visitors to our online youth wellness programming and resources

    • The most popular were:

The Virtual Teen Center

Videos from the Families Connected Speaker Series events

Stress and Anxiety - how parents can help

Mindful parenting

Helping youth manage screens and social media

  • 17 in-person partnered parent education events

    • Topics and events included:

“Dangers of Youth Substance Use and Fentanyl” (6) *

“Digital Safety and Screentime Management” with Adams Middle School PTA

“Screenagers Under the Influence” * 

“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)

“Screenagers: Elementary School Edition” (4) *

* We thank Beach Cities Health District, MBUSD, RBUSD and HBCSD for partnering with us on these events

  • 10 virtual Families Connected Parent Chat support group meetings

    • provided in partnership with Beach Cities Health District and the Thelma McMillen Center

  • 18 school-requested youth wellness talks and wellness-fairs

    • provided on campuses by Kelly Hendrickson, RN, SBFC’s Community Outreach Coordinator

  • 3 new Partner Schools and ongoing maintenance of existing partnerships

  • 10 SBFC Parent Newsletters produced helping to drive parent engagement

  • Ongoing expansion of community partnerships

  • Invaluable guidance from our SBFC Youth Advisory and Parent Advisory

Youth wellness issues 2024 - top 5 areas of focus

As driven by input from administrators at our 115 Partner Schools and from our youth and parent advisors

  • Screentime management/ social media/

  • Youth substance use prevention and fentanyl awareness

  • Mental health awareness

  • Mindfulness parenting

  • Suicide prevention



2024 Financials

 
 

With gratitude, from our 2025 Board of Directors and SBFC Program Director


“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.”
— Naya Elle James

We thank our supporters for making this work possible