About Us

Established in 2000, La Cultura Cura (LCC) inherits its vision to create healthy alternatives for youth from the Real Alternatives Program (RAP), a youth organization developed in the 1970s. Program staff work in the community, schools, and through the courts to ensure that youth and their parents receive the advocacy and intervention services they need.

La Cultura Cura’s programs and services focus on the experiences facing Latinx/Chicanx/Indigenous youth in San Francisco. Our goal is to have a positive, lasting impact on the lives of our young clients so that they may positively impact the health and wellness of their communities. We do this through a combination of services and innovative cultural programming, while our staff strives to develop meaningful and consistent relationships with youth to expand their life skills, reinforce positive cultural identity, and support their positive contributions to the community.

Our Purpose

La Cultura Cura is about supporting the self-determination of youth! We believe that la cultura heals; thus, all healing practices occur within a cultural framework where healing is about community building and empowerment. We operate under the premise that cultural and traditional activities are indeed wellness practices and not just manifestations of our identity. Each subculture in the trajectory of the Latinx/Chicanx/Indigenous experience has a set of embedded healing practices and coping mechanisms that should be celebrated and strengthened. La Cultura Cura promotes a reflection of youth culture, facilitates critical consciousness and self-reflection, teaches En Lak’ech (“you are my other self”), supports social-emotional wellness, and fosters an understanding of individual, group, historical, and cultural relationships.

Our work is to provide quality prevention and wellness services for Latinx/Chicanx/Indigenous youth in San Francisco. Our struggle is to break systemic cycles of violence by offering culturally empowering services and activities. Our presence in the community, schools, and courts ensures that youth and their parents/caregivers receive the support they need. Our heartfelt hope is to develop meaningful and consistent relationships with youth to expand their life skills, reinforce positive cultural identity, and develop their leadership. Our ultimate goal is to create a positive and lasting impact so that youth can find their own voice and express their true selves.

What We Offer

Individual Services

Individual and/or Family Therapy is offered to youth ages 12–24 who have been affected by trauma in the community and need support to reduce risks and/or navigate challenges related to behavioral and mental health conditions. Services are offered to youth who have expressed readiness for active participation in therapy and meet medical necessity based on assessment. The services consist of assessment, treatment plan development, individual and family therapy, and coordination of collateral services. Services are offered to support youth in reducing mental health stressors and risk factors to improve functioning consistent with the goals of learning, development, independent living skills, and enhanced self-sufficiency.

Clinical Case Management (CCM) is offered to youth ages 12–21 who meet medical necessity and consent to completing a clinical assessment. Youth may be involved with the Juvenile Justice System, have legal issues stemming from immigration, or have been referred by a system-of-care partner. LCC Mental Health Clinicians conduct an assessment to determine diagnosis and individual and/or family case management service needs, and develop an individualized treatment plan. Depending on the outcome of their assessment, youth receive 2 to 3 hours of weekly treatment support services to address their behavioral health concerns and psychosocial needs.

Restorative and Intensive Case Management (RCM or ICM) is offered to youth ages 12–24. Case management services consist of a minimum of one to three weekly contacts to provide linkage and referral services to address youth service plan needs. Participants receive a psychosocial assessment to determine individual and family support goals. This service usually ranges from 6 to 12 months.

Services include 1-to-1 supportive sessions/interventions to make a positive impact on youth’s self-esteem, strengthen relationships with parents and peers, improve academic performance, and reduce and prevent risky behavior. A Care Manager engages in a supportive relationship with youth and works collaboratively to identify their strengths and interests to foster educational goal attainment, access to culturally relevant programming, skill-building opportunities, and social/emotional development.

Group Services

Latinxs Adelante services include our gender-specific group services focused on promoting positive identity formation. We have Latinas Unidas and Latinos Unidos, which foster leadership development and address the unique needs of our Latinx youth. Youth participate in a journey of self-discovery to increase self-esteem, address and reduce risk factors, and promote the role of youth leadership in their communities. Youth are offered linkages to community resources and opportunities to volunteer in the community.

Wellness and Psycho-Educational Workshops: LCC offers various workshops for youth to address the impacts of interpersonal, community, and historical trauma. These multi-session workshops are offered to youth ages 12 to 24 several times a year on various well-being topics, such as cultural affirmation, youth development, stress management, fostering healthy relationships, physical and mental health fitness, and restorative practices. Please contact the LCC Program Coordinator to inquire about the next workshop session.

Our Referral Process

Services at La Cultura Cura are free of charge. They include school-based groups, individual case management, and therapy services for Latinx youth in San Francisco. All youth accessing La Cultura Cura’s services (or their service provider) must first complete and submit a referral form. To make a referral, please:

• If you are a service provider, inform the youth and their family that you are referring them to La Cultura Cura for services.

• Complete La Cultura Cura’s online referral form (click here). For any questions, contact La Cultura Cura’s Intake Coordinator at (415) 859-5793 or email [email protected].

Contact Us

Main Office

Geneva Main Office: 5128 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94122

Hours:

Monday—Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. By appointment only

Phone: (415) 229-0539

For urgent issues, please contact:

Mission Site: 2919 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Phone: (415) 229-0500