South Lake Tahoe Police Department - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is committed to reaching out with exceptional service to all those who may have need of our assistance, or are merely interested in exploring what our agency and our beautiful area has to offer. Our mission is to protect and serve the citizens and visitors of South Lake Tahoe, as well as to involve them in helping us make their homes and businesses better places to live, work and raise children. By working together, we all make South Lake Tahoe not only one of the most majestic, but also one of the safest cities in California.

Through activities like Police Activity League (PAL) Boxing and others, combined with field trips and other outdoor events, our involvement is another way for our police department to foster close interaction and communication with the youth and families in the community we serve.

Contact: Chief Terry Daniels, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, 1352 Johnson Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150
Web: www.SLTPD.com, Phone: (530) 542-6100, Fax: (530) 542-6146

Public Health Division - El Dorado County Public Health, Alcohol and Drug Programs (EDCPH) is a collaborative member of the South Lake Tahoe Youth Task Force (YTF). EDCPH became very involved with the YTF in May 2008 as the group became more focused on primary prevention programming. EDCPH has several staff assigned to alcohol and drug prevention and treatment programs throughout El Dorado County. Most significantly in South Lake Tahoe, EDCPH directs a youth anti-binge drinking prevention program called, “Safe Choices”. Through collaboration with the YTF, EDCPH has been able to coordinate planning committees and recruitment strategies for Safe Choices.

EDCPH strongly believes that primary prevention is achieved by increasing youth attachment to school, positive adult role models and the community. Keeping that in mind, EDCPH began working closely with the YTF and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department to engage youth in identifying the needs for positive alternative programming in South Lake Tahoe. Through a series of youth and YTF planning meetings, the South Lake Tahoe Police Activities League (PAL) emerged. PAL provides a platform for youth to design and implement positive alternative activities and for adults and the community to volunteer and provide program resources.
 
EDCPH's primary interest in this collaboration is the overall health and well being of local youth. EDCPH staff provides meeting facilitation, data collection and program coordination for the YTF collaborative. Through the Safe Choice program all youth participating in PAL are screened for alcohol-related risk factors. Youth identified with significant-alcohol related risk factors are enrolled, along with their parent(s), in Sembrando Salud prevention education classes supported by the Lake Tahoe Unified School District and EDCPH. During this academic year 30 student-parent pairs have completed the Sembrando Salud classes.  
 
In addition to alcohol prevention, EDCPH recognizes the importance of school attachment and academic success in protecting youth. As a result, EDCPH has taken a primary role in assessing the academic needs and facilitating the PAL Homework Club for all PAL participants. All PAL participants are required to attend PAL/YTF coordinated tutoring if recommended by PAL volunteers and coaches. EDCPH staff are currently busy gathering data and collecting statistics for Safe Choices and PAL programming.

Contact: EDCPH at 530-573-4370 with any questions or comments.    

South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center - The mission of the Family Resource Center is to enable individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency and economic stability, to develop resilience in both parents and children, and to allow families to become a contributing part of the community. For More Information, visit the website at www.southtahoefrc.org

Lake Tahoe Unified School District - “Creating Learning Opportunities for Every Child to Achieve Success” - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District is a public school district currently serving approximately 4,000 students in the South Lake Tahoe area from Stateline to Twin Bridges.  The District consists of four elementary schools, one middle school, one comprehensive high school, a Transitional Learning Center, a continuation high school, and an Independent Learning Academy. Local demographics reflect a 54% Caucasian, 37% Hispanic,  and 8% other student population, incorporating all socioeconomic levels.  Elementary students receive a challenging curriculum addressing District standards that is supplemented by exemplary English language learner and performing arts programs. South Tahoe Middle School offers an engaging program for students in grades six through eight which includes a specialized reading program, interdisciplinary teams, and a varied elective program with a recognized instrumental music program. With SAT scores above the state average and an extensive offering of Advanced Placement classes, South Tahoe High School students are well prepared for either college or a career. South Tahoe High School, a California Distinguished School, boasts outstanding athletic programs and other activities to meet the diverse needs of students. South Tahoe High School and South Tahoe Middle School are AVID National Demonstration Schools, which are centers of learning and research in which AVID is the cornerstone of schoolwide change as evidenced by a college-going atmosphere which provides all students with the opportunity to succeed in rigorous curriculum. 

With the passage of a $17 million facilities bond in 1999, all schools in the LTUSD have under-gone modernization. This includes new state-of-the-art science departments at South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School.  In November 2008, almost 60% of voters passed another school bond measure in the amount of $64.5 million, which will be augmented by State matching grants of $15.4 million.  Over the next several years, District schools will undergo renovation, modernization, and new construction, which will include a “Green Auto Shop” and an “Arts, Media, and Entertainment Center” at South Tahoe High School. A $35 million budget is supplemented by the Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, which is actively involved in the financial support of our schools and we enjoy a high level of support from our community.

In response to local gang violence on and off the school campuses, the Youth Task Forces was formed in partnership with The South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Health Department, the City of South Lake Tahoe, the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, community representatives and youth to engage our youth and future citizens in positive alternative activities, academic assessment and guidance with positive adult role models.

The District strives to do everything possible to make South Lake Tahoe schools safer places for children to learn, and is proud to be a partner in the Youth Task Force’s commitment to reducing youth violence and making schools safer.  Parents, students, school personnel, and everyone else who lives in South Lake Tahoe must be involved in the prevention, intervention, and response efforts. Working together in such a comprehensive way will allow us to build upon the many successes that we have already experienced.  With all of us working together, we can continue moving in a positive direction so that schools in South Lake Tahoe will be safer places for our children to grow and learn, and the community at large can experience the benefits of safe environments and productive citizens.

El Dorado County Workforce Investment Act (WIA) - The Youth Services Program, under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) offers a wide range of accessible programs designed to meet basic needs and to improve the quality of life for residents living in our Community.

The WIA supports the Youth Task Force in that the program can help serve South Lake Tahoe's population of at risk youth who need assistance in gaining work readiness skills and occupational training.  The WIA program also emphasizes the importance of education by supporting the youth to complete secondary schooling and earn their high school diploma or GED.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Activities League (PAL) - PAL was resurrected in May, 2008 as the result of community needs identified by the South Lake Tahoe Youth Task Force (YTF). The YTF believes that primary alcohol and drug prevention is best achieved by increasing youth attachment to positive adult role models, school and their community. PAL volunteers and participants engage in various youth-designed programs throughout the year. Police officers, YTF members and community volunteers are currently engaged with local youth through the PAL Boxing Club, Art Club, Homework Club, Bike Club, Little Latinas and various field trips, including: fishing trips, sledding trips, visits to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) campus, UNR basketball games, local boxing matches, ski trips and local hikes. PAL strives to promote healthy physical, social and mental development of youth in South Lake Tahoe.

PAL operates as a collaborative partnership between the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, El Dorado County Public Health Department, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, YTF and community volunteers. Providing positive alternative activities to local youth and volunteers is also a recruitment tool for the Safe Choices anti-binge drinking prevention program directed by the El Dorado County Public Health Department. All PAL youth are screened for alcohol risk behaviors and enrolled in alcohol prevention classes as needed.   

PAL is designed to engage youth and the community in the planning process of implementing positive alternative activities aimed at improving educational achievement, preventing delinquency, reducing alcohol and drug risk factors, providing positive adult role models and improving the overall quality of life for youth in South Lake Tahoe. No ideas are too big or too small. PAL welcomes the community, local residents and youth to contact the YTF or PAL with ideas and resources for existing or new programs.

Contact: Dee Maddox, Administrative Assistant, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, 1352 Johnson Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA  96150-8217, 530-542-6139, dmaddox@cityofslt.us

Sports Connection - Sports Connection was founded in June 2007 in response to the many children in South Lake Tahoe who were not participating in community activities which typically foster a sense of identity, self esteem, and belonging.  There are many barriers to their participation some of which include finances, language, and transportation.  It is the goal of Sports Connection to play an early prevention/intervention role in the lives of youth in order to decrease gang involvement and teen-age pregnancy.  A secondary purpose is to build unity amongst youth in this community where currently there is division due to segregation in the classrooms and invisible lines segregating neighborhoods. 

The program works by connecting a financial sponsor to a child.  Sports Connection sponsors are typically given a scholarship rate by the provider as most candidates would qualify for this adjusted rate.  Once placed on a team equipment as well as transportation needs are dealt with.  Sports Connection will work with the coach/instructor as well as parents on the team to ensure a participants success.  The child is asked only to give 100 percent as a team player and to keep their grades and behavior at school positive in return. Sports Connection has served 100 local kids through AYSO, Marcia Sarosik dance, Kahle Park Basketball, ASA softball, South Lake Tahoe Little League, City of South Lake Tahoe Snowboarding program, City of SLT ice hockey program, and Pop Warner football. The program is continuing to grow through on-going referrals of students by teachers, neighbors, and relatives, as well as through connections to different activities by various providers It is our hope that every child in this community will find a place to feel a sense of belonging where they are a piece of the greater good and a valued member of South Lake Tahoe.

Contact:  Amy Jackson, korujacksons@sbcglobal.net, 530-307-4046

The Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe - The Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe is involved with the Youth Task Force through a variety of programs, activities and opportunities.  The club’s UNITY PROJECT targets youth in the 6th-12th grades, providing an opportunity for them to “UNITE”, break down barriers, and explore and express their passion: be it art, music, or sports.  On the second Friday of each month, participants can come to the club for an afternoon of activities.  The El Dorado County Youth Commission has been involved with this project, brining youth from the Placerville area to events.  The Boys & Girls Club offers High School youth the opportunity to become Jr. Volunteers at the club, where they become the mentors and role models for younger members.  With shared vision, the Boys & Girls club is able to offer a safe and positive place youth for to spend their out of school time.  The PAL boxing program takes place at the same site as the Boys & Girls Club Main site, and participants can come and get help with their homework prior to their practice sessions.  Providing opportunities for community service is a cornerstone of Boys & Girls Club and in collaboration with the Youth Task Force, youth are learning the value of giving back to their community. 

Contact: For more information about the Boys & Girls Club phone 530-542-0838 or visit www.bgclt.org, http://www.vimeo.com/3387884

Tahoe Youth and Family Services - Tahoe Youth and Family Services is a non-profit organization that has been serving youth and families in our community since 1971. Our Mission is to promote the healthy development of children, youth, and families by providing counseling, education and support services.

Our primary goal is to provide a safety net of services. We serve families through professional and confidential individual and family counseling, community outreach, mentoring, Project Safe Place, Wraparound services, emergency youth shelter, and a 24-hour crisis line.

Contact: 1021 Fremont Ave. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. Tel: (530) 541-2445 Fax: (530) 541-0517 Web: www.tahoeyouth.org

CASA El Dorado is a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization that works directly with the Court to advocate for the best interests of children 0-18 that are part of the Court system, often through no fault of their own.  CASAs, Court Appointed Special Advocates, are trained volunteers that are assigned through the Court.  They build a relationship with the child, gather information relevant to the child, to their stability and safety, and report to the Court these findings and any recommendations that are appropriately in the child’s best interests. CASA volunteers are an integral part of the dependency, delinquency, and occasionally, family law Court systems. 

Take a Stand; Make a Difference;
Change a Life…Forever.

Contact: Kelly K. Parker or Wendy David, CASA of El Dorado County - 1354 Johnson Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Office 530.573.3072 - Fax 530.541.5932 - www.casaeldorado.org