Community Corner

SVECC Profile: Spring Valley Youth & Family Coalition

Over the last two decades, the community group has authored or partnered to bring more than $30 million in funding and in-kind resources to East County.

In 2009, when the made the tough decision to close down Spring Valley Elementary School due to declining enrollment, much thought was given to what to do with the facility. 

Thanks to some ambitious social groups in Spring Valley, along with San Diego Youth Services, the decision was made to lease the buildings out and form a community center that would be the heartbeat of improving the quality of life for those in Spring Valley and other areas of East County. Then and there the was born.

Now, with the facility at close to 99 percent occupancy, Mount Helix Patch will profile each of the organizations at the SVECC in a multi-part series.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Today, we will profile the Spring Valley Youth & Family Coalition. Collaborative coordinator Barbara Warner answered questions from Mount Helix Patch via email.

When was your organization/program founded?

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A core group of local residents worked together for several years before coming together officially as the Spring Valley Youth & Family Coalition in 1993.  The original focus was a campaign to bring youth programs and resources to our area, initially through a 1995 Title V Delinquency Prevention grant which funded the operation of the south Spring Valley teen center (then known as the “Teen and Tween” Center). 

That first success was followed by a 1997 California Healthy Start Planning Grant at Spring Valley Elementary School, leading to the La Mesa-Spring Valley Healthy Start program that serves students today district-wide.  From that original dedicated handful of residents and a few key agencies, we have grown to include over 90 different organizations and community members, working on a broad range of issues.

What is the mission of your organization/program?

Officially: “The Mission of the Spring Valley Youth & Family Coalition is to unite community residents, organizations, businesses, and social agencies in a representative alliance, working collaboratively to provide services and drug-free environments that improve the health, well-being, and resilience of Spring Valley youth and families.”

What are the specific services provided to Spring Valley (or other communities)?

As our mission states, we’re about bringing the full spectrum of Spring Valley stakeholders together to coordinate and leverage our efforts, partnering to develop resources, to learn from each other, and to help ensure the services offered to Spring Valley residents are relevant, effective, and accessible.  Over the last two decades we have authored or partnered to bring more than $30 million in funding and in-kind resources to East County. 

We also serve and provide representation within numerous local and regional efforts, from San Diego County’s “Building Better Health” initiative to the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Prevention task force.  We are also partnering to offer classes as one of the County’s Regional Garden Education Centers, teaching participants how to grow food, organize community gardens, and collaborate on school garden programs.  Another community-building effort among our partners is the Spring Valley Farmers Market, held here on site every Tuesday afternoon.

How many people do you serve?

In most instances, the Coalition helps to coordinate/support services provided by our member organizations, rather than provide them directly.  That being said, we sincerely believe we’re having a positive impact on the entire Spring Valley community, as well as an extended network of East County partner communities. 

What else do you want to the community to know about you being here?

Our meetings are here on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 3-4:30 pm, in the Spring Valley Community Room (Room 30).  The meetings are open and anyone interested in working toward a stronger, more vital community is welcomed.  The SVY&FC meetings are a great way to find out about the services, organizations, issues and partnerships happening in Spring Valley and East County.  We’re proud of our member organizations and community leaders, and what they accomplish by genuinely collaborating.

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