Every Monday morning, Substance-Use Counselor Michelle Araquistain spends four hours at Stagg High School, holding 1-on-1 sessions with students trying to cope with the challenges of adolescence in Stockton in the aftermath of COVID. She visits Stockton Unified’s Edison, Franklin and Chavez high schools Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“The students may not be using,” says Ronnie Gallardo, CMC’s Substance Use Counselor Team Lead. “But seeing someone use around them or being around those individuals affects them internally. Michelle’s job is to touch bases with them and provide support, to open their eyes to a better life, better decision-making as grownups.”
Michelle and Social Worker/Case Manager Elizabeth Gates are on the front lines of CMC’s growing youth enrichment and SUD program. In addition to her high school stops, Michelle also holds biweekly group sessions at the Children’s Home of Stockton, and Elizabeth sees young people at California Street Pediatrics on Mondays and at Lodi Vine on Fridays.
“It’s all about meeting them where they’re at, just like with any adult, and getting to them sooner than later,” Michelle says.
Elizabeth adds, “If we can target the youth first, getting them the help and support they need, when they become adults, they’ll have resources. Even parents now don’t know about or have those resources for themselves or their children. Providing information, resources and outreach now is beneficial for them later on.”
That adolescence can be challenging is hardly a revelation. But CMC’s team has observed that many of today’s youth remain burdened by the lingering effects of social disconnection that were part of the COVID-19 pandemic. The social connections that have always been a key part of in-person schooling frayed as students found themselves attending classes at home on their electronic devices.
“They want to just stay home,” Elizabeth says. “It’s hard for them to figure out what they like, what their hobbies are. Social media, too, brings a lot of isolation.”
About 140 students are in the program, but the goal is for it to grow beyond Stockton Unified to include the other school districts in San Joaquin County, along with the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s one.Program alternative school sites, says Ronnie. He adds that he ultimately envisions group sessions with young people as well as with parents.
“A lot of times parents are in denial,” Michelle says. “They don’t even know that their kids are using substances. And the kids don’t want their parents to know. That’s a barrier. We work on communication and trust, and eventually we get to the point where we can work collaboratively.”
Chief Medical Officer Benjamin Morrison adds, “Our pediatrics team and behavioral health team work closely together to help identify at-risk youth and to help get them into the care they need. With the addition of new SUD providers and team members, we aim to be able to expand our services to reach more at-risk youth throughout San Joaquin County, and to meet their substance-use disorder needs, whether it be medical or behavioral treatments.”
Ronnie is eager to raise awareness of this growing segment of CMC’s behavioral-health services.
He says, “I think this is the time for us to say, ‘We’re here.’ ”
