- Top Workplaces
- Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC)
Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC)
In 1974, Alum Rock Counseling Center began its critical work by addressing the academic, social, and mental health needs of at-risk youth and families, living in the extremely high-need area of East San Josè, CA. 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, incarceration, addiction, and victimization. A group of active community members founded ARCC in the hopes of providing this community with the culturally proficient counseling and professional support they needed in order to lead healthier, safer, and more productive lives.
For 48 years, ARCC’s programs have helped to keep at-risk youth safe, in school, and drug- and violence-free. Alum Rock Counseling Center serves over 6,000 youth and their families.
For 48 years, ARCC’s programs have helped to keep at-risk youth safe, in school, and drug- and violence-free. Alum Rock Counseling Center serves over 6,000 youth and their families.
Purpose
Healing Trauma, Overcoming Poverty, Enabling School Success
Since 1974, ARCC’s behavioral health & educational support programs have served as a lifeline for many under-resourced youth (age 0-25) and families in Santa Clara County, with a focus on their founding region of East San Jose. The agency serves an extremely low-income population, including a large number of immigrant families, where caregivers are monolingual Spanish-speakers and/or where at least one adult is undocumented, making it difficult for them to navigate the educational and healthcare systems. As a result, without intervention, many youth fall into multigenerational cycles of substance use, juvenile delinquency, school failure & sustained poverty.
To address these challenges, ARCC offers 13 different culturally/linguistically sensitive behavioral health programs & school-based services, ranging from prevention and early intervention through to trauma recovery & support including:
• Individual & family counseling
• Youth mentoring
• Substance use prevention & life skills training
• Connecting Families to Needed Resources (e.g., food banks, housing support, vision/dental care etc)
• School-based counseling & support services
• Drop-in, no-cost wellness centers for youth (ages 12-25)
• Training and resources for new parents (First 5)
• Advocacy for families involved with child welfare or juvenile justice
Since 1974, ARCC’s behavioral health & educational support programs have served as a lifeline for many under-resourced youth (age 0-25) and families in Santa Clara County, with a focus on their founding region of East San Jose. The agency serves an extremely low-income population, including a large number of immigrant families, where caregivers are monolingual Spanish-speakers and/or where at least one adult is undocumented, making it difficult for them to navigate the educational and healthcare systems. As a result, without intervention, many youth fall into multigenerational cycles of substance use, juvenile delinquency, school failure & sustained poverty.
To address these challenges, ARCC offers 13 different culturally/linguistically sensitive behavioral health programs & school-based services, ranging from prevention and early intervention through to trauma recovery & support including:
• Individual & family counseling
• Youth mentoring
• Substance use prevention & life skills training
• Connecting Families to Needed Resources (e.g., food banks, housing support, vision/dental care etc)
• School-based counseling & support services
• Drop-in, no-cost wellness centers for youth (ages 12-25)
• Training and resources for new parents (First 5)
• Advocacy for families involved with child welfare or juvenile justice
Vision
Communities where help and support services are accessible and prosperity is possible
Mission
To heal families and inspire youth to reach their full potential
Additional Culture Details
Alum Rock Counseling Center takes pride in promoting within because we value retention & believe in recognizing high performing staff. Many staff have been with us for over 10 years. Staff who leave ARCC often return within 1 year. We have an open door policy where staff have the space to lead up and spend time with our CEO. Our leadership team and managers are compassionate and truly value and respect their staff. The flexibility that our organization provides allows our staff to have a work life balance. ARCC is a phenomenal organization with caring and compassionate leaders.
A unique component of ARCC’s success is our culturally sensitive approach to hiring and program delivery. ARCC believes that our youth and families are best served by people who mirror the community they serve, sharing and respecting the cultural values of the families.
For instance, in FY22, ARCC’s clients were 93% ethnically diverse, with 67% being Latinx. Similarly, 86% of ARCC’s direct service staff is made up of diverse ethnicities with 64% being Hispanic/Latino, and 68% bilingual. Furthermore, many of ARCC’s staff currently live in the high-risk communities we serve and/or grew up in neighborhoods facing similar challenges. This type of shared life experience – coming from a low-income family, being a first-generation immigrant, raised by a single parent, recovering from substance abuse - provides practitioners with special empathy and insight when working with our youth and families.
A unique component of ARCC’s success is our culturally sensitive approach to hiring and program delivery. ARCC believes that our youth and families are best served by people who mirror the community they serve, sharing and respecting the cultural values of the families.
For instance, in FY22, ARCC’s clients were 93% ethnically diverse, with 67% being Latinx. Similarly, 86% of ARCC’s direct service staff is made up of diverse ethnicities with 64% being Hispanic/Latino, and 68% bilingual. Furthermore, many of ARCC’s staff currently live in the high-risk communities we serve and/or grew up in neighborhoods facing similar challenges. This type of shared life experience – coming from a low-income family, being a first-generation immigrant, raised by a single parent, recovering from substance abuse - provides practitioners with special empathy and insight when working with our youth and families.
Values
- ARCC's Core Values & Guiding Principles
- ARCC has defined six core values and four guiding principles, which help guide who we strive to be for one another and the youth and families whom we serve. These were developed with input from our leaders, managers and staff. They allow us to have positive, healthy, and productive interactions and relationships, marked by compassion and care.
Company Snapshots
