What is a Wellbeing Center?
The Student Wellbeing Center (SWBC/WBC) program aims to empower students to make informed decisions that promote lifelong health and wellbeing for themselves and their communities.
SWBCs provide a youth-centered approach to substance use prevention and health education to support students throughout adolescence. Operated by the Department of Public Health (DPH)
These interventions are grounded in Positive Youth Development (PYD) principles, a framework emphasizing empowering students to control their health, well-being, and personal growth. By engaging youth and leveraging a strengths-based approach, these interventions help students build resilience, enabling them to prevent substance use and reduce substance-related risks.
SWBCs offer safe, accessible environments on school campuses where students can receive guidance, resources, and education to support their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. All services are free.
At the Wellbeing Centers, students can access...
Peer Health Advocate Program
"To me being a Peer Advocate means standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves and bringing awareness to sensitive topics that need to be talked about."
"I learned many things including life skills and emotional, mental, and physical health lessons."
The Department of Public Health created the Peer Health Advocate (PHA) Program to address and prevent the initiation, progression, and harms of substance use among teens. At each school site, twelve students are selected and trained by Wellbeing Center Youth Educators to serve as leaders and role models within their school and community. Through the program, students enhance their decision-making skills, self-awareness, resilience, and critical thinking.
As they build leadership and advocacy skills, PHAs gain protective skills that reduce the risk of substance use and other health challenges- empowering them to make informed choices about
Impact
There are currently 47 Wellbeing Centers, with the goal of establishing 50 centers represented in all 5 Supervisorial Districts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Wellbeing Center?
A Wellbeing Center is a safe, inclusive space located on a middle or high school campus in Los Angeles County, where students can learn how to take care of their health from adolescence into adulthood. Wellbeing Centers provide important services to support the physical and emotional well-being of students, including education and services around substance use prevention, stress management and reduction, and healthy relationships.
The Wellbeing Centers also provide education and training to staff and parents/guardians in the school community, to create a school culture where all young people thrive.
Why are Wellbeing Centers needed in schools?
Many young people in Los Angeles County do not have access to accurate health information and preventative care at a time in their life when informed decision-making can prevent dangerous risk-taking and the likelihood of engaging in harmful substance use behaviors. With a Wellbeing Center on campus, interested students can learn the facts about different types of harmful substances, build skills to refuse peer pressure and prevent overdose in situations they may encounter, and get linked to health care information and services they need without having to leave campus or miss valuable class time.
Where are the Wellbeing Centers located?
The Wellbeing Centers are located on middle and high school campuses throughout Los Angeles County. The Wellbeing Centers' location on campus ensures that students have convenient access to services without having to leave campus, helping to avert absences. Students or parents can reach out to their school's administrative office to find out if their school has a Wellbeing Center.
Who staffs the Wellbeing Centers?
The Wellbeing Centers are staffed by master's-level Youth Educators from the Department of Public Health, who are trained to meet students where they are in their own real-life stages of growth and development. Youth Educators are well-versed in implementing a variety of evident-based principles and skills in their approaches to connecting with youth, including not not limited to: applying a Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, preventing and linking to resources for treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), utilizing Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques, administering Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), and preventing, identifying, and responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Do the Wellbeing Centers offer any resources for parents?
Yes, Wellbeing Centers offer resources that encourage and educate parents to talk with teens about alcohol, vaping, drugs, sexual decision making, and their overall health. Parents can build their confidence in knowing their child is learning now to safely navigate daily pressure with the support of informed adults and peers at the Wellbeing Centers.