About ARCC
ARCC was founded in 1974 by a group of community members, who were aiming to address the academic, social and mental health needs of the at-risk youth and families living in the extremely high-need area of East San José. Due to the lack of linguistically sensitive and culturally appropriate practitioners and services, many of the predominantly Spanish-speaking individuals in this region were “falling through the cracks” of the legal, educational, and health systems into lives of poverty, academic failure, illness, addiction, incarceration and victimization. The founders’ intent was to offer practical, proven solutions to families when and where they needed them most, and in a manner that was inclusive, respectful, and delivered in a language most familiar to clients. Their goal was to provide this community with culturally sensitive, strengths-based counseling and professional support to help youth and their families lead healthier, safer, more productive lives.
Today, ARCC’s mission remains very much the same- namely, to heal families and inspire youth to reach their full potential. The agency strives to accomplish its mission by promoting the healthy development of at-risk minors through a combination of educational assistance, youth & family counseling, youth development/character building activities, violence prevention education, and crisis intervention services, all of which are designed to be linguistically and culturally appropriate. Through its strategic partnerships and extensive continuum of care, ARCC provides low-income, minority youth with tools to break multigenerational cycles of poverty and school failure, so that they can stay safe, in school and drug & violence free.
ARCC Values
Values are an integral component to any organization in supporting healthy, positive and goal-oriented interactions and relationships.
Our leadership and management teams worked together and gathered feedback from staff to come up with the five core values below, which are consistent with our Guiding Principles and speak to who we are and who we strive to be with each other \ in our work at ARCC:
- Integrity
- Helping Others
- Respect
- Diversity
- Quality Work
These values reflect over four decades of service by ARCC. They are fundamental to how we continue to grow and attract competent, dedicated and amazing employees.
Diversity & Inclusion Mission and Vision Statements
Diversity and inclusion are at the very heart of Alum Rock Counseling Center’s values and services. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion infuses all of our policies and practices as well as our interactions internally and externally. Below are our Diversity & Inclusion Mission and Vision statements.
Mission:
To ensure an environment where employees, individuals, youth & families of diverse race, color, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity & expression, religion, nationality, disability and marital & parental status receive culturally relevant services in a language they understand and are treated with mutual respect & inclusion through a lens of awareness without personal judgment.
Vision:
All employees, agency partners, individuals, youth and families served are embraced and celebrated for their own uniqueness with respect for their voices. That all staff understand and support the agency’s dedication and commitment to valuing the intrinsic differences of communities. Culturally competent best practices for internal and external interactions are in place and observed across the organization.
Through a Wide Array of Prevention & Early Intervention Services, ARCC Keeps Youth Safe, In School, and Drug and Violence Free.
In FY22, ARCC Supported:
- 240 caregivers of young children (age 0-5) in high-risk circumstances such as pregnant teens/parenting teens, immigrant/monolingual caregivers, and low-income families
- 324 youth and their families at high risk for mental illness and associated academic failure
- 2251 students at risk for substance use, delinquency, and/or school failure/dropout.
Through a Variety of Programs Offering Therapeutic Counseling, Advocacy & Peer Specialist Services, ARCC Provides Hope, Guidance, and New Beginnings
In FY22, ARCC Served:
- 269 youth with serious emotional disorders
- 149 youth & caregivers seeking culturally sensitive guidance in navigating an open case through the Department of Family & Children Services or the Juvenile Probation Department
- 499 youth & young adults via an innovative network of integrated youth mental health centers designed with, by and for youth