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Necessities and Community Resources
Necessities and Community Resources
Whether you’re a student looking for help or a parent supporting your child, the resources below are designed to help!
Health and Insurance
Health and Insurance
Community Clinics List - List of free clinics that can help with general health needs for uninsured families, and can also help you enroll in medicare and emergency insurance if you qualify
Medi-Cal - Free or low-cost health insurance for eligible California residents. Children can qualify regardless of immigration status. Apply online at BenefitsCal.com or call (800) 952-5253.
County Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - Low-cost health coverage for children in families who earn too much for Medi-Cal but can't afford private insurance. Call (408) 539-2100.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - County hospital offering medical care regardless of ability to pay, with financial assistance options for uninsured patients. Call (408) 885-5000.
School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County - Free and affordable primary and preventive care for low-income community members, including behavioral health and reproductive health services. Care is available regardless of insurance or immigration status. Schoolhealthclinics Call (408) 284-2280.
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County - Offers health coverage enrollment assistance and social services, including support for immigrant families. Call (408) 325-5122.
Planned Parenthood - With or without insurance, Planned Parenthood provides of high-quality, affordable health care for all, testing, birth control, and sex education. Visit their website to make an appointment or call (408) 287-7526
Housing
ESUHSD McKinney-Vento Liaison - If your student is unstably housed (including couch-surfing, staying in a motel, or living in a car) contact the district liaison (Maryam Adalat, MSW, PPSC, adalatm@esuhsd.org, Phone Number: (405) 347-5331) to protect their right to stay enrolled and access school-based support.
Bill Wilson Center Safety Net Shelter - Short-term emergency shelter for youth ages 12–17 who are homeless or have run away. Call (408) 243-0222 and ask to speak to the Safety Net Shelter Intake Counselor
Bill Wilson Center Drop-In Center - A safe space for youth ages 18–24 offering food, personal care items, showers, laundry, and referrals to housing and mental health services. Located at 693 S. 2nd St, San Jose. Call (408) 925-0231.
Here4you Hotline - The Here4You call center hotline is designed to centralize referrals for clients needing shelter in Santa Clara County and match people to emergency shelters, including transportation. Call center hours are seven days a week from 9 am - 7 pm: (408) 385-2400.
LifeMoves - Interim housing and support for individuals and families working toward stable housing in Santa Clara County.
HomeFirst - Emergency shelter and transitional housing for adults and families experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County.
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence - 24/7 crisis support, emergency housing, and safety planning for those experiencing domestic violence. Call (408) 279-2962.
Food
ST Food Pantry — Free pantry staples (e.g., pasta, canned foods) available to Santa Teresa and Phoenix High School students on campus in the Mental Health and Wellness Center (Rm 801) during school hours.
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley — One of the largest food banks in the region; provides free groceries and help applying for CalFresh. Call 1-800-984-3663 or visit their website to find a distribution site near you.
CalFresh (SNAP) — Monthly food benefits to use at grocery stores and farmers markets. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may qualify. Apply at BenefitsCal.com or call 1-877-847-3663.
Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen — Free hot meals served Monday–Friday at two San Jose locations: 1080 N. 7th St (3:30–4:30pm) and 1066 S. 2nd St (4:00–5:30pm). Call (408) 922-9085 to confirm current hours.
Legal & Crisis Services
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley - Free legal services on housing, health, and children's rights issues and systems change work to advance equity and justice for low-income individuals and communities of color in Silicon Valley. Call (408) 293-4790.
SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network) - Free immigration legal services for immigrants in Santa Clara County, including DACA, citizenship, family petitions, and removal defense. Free consultations available by phone at (408) 453-3003
Child Abuse Hotline - When the situation does not require police action, call to report suspected child abuse or get connected to child protective services at (833) 722-5437.
Parental Stress Line - Free, confidential support for parents, caregivers, and teachers under stress, available any time. Call (408) 279-8228 (24/7) for Bill Wilson Crisis Line, and Call 1(800) 632-8188 for Parents Helping Parents
Employment Services
San José Works / work2future - Paid work experience program for San Jose youth ages 14–18 with barriers to employment, plus employment and career services for ages 16–29. Includes job readiness training, mentoring, financial literacy, and transportation support. Call (408) 794-1101.
California Youth Employment Opportunity Program (YEOP) - State program for youth ages 15–25 who need extra support finishing school or finding work, including peer advising, career coaching, and referrals to housing and childcare services. Priority given to foster youth, homeless youth, teen parents, and low-income youth.
Job Corps — San Jose - Free job training and education program for young people ages 16–24, with pathways into construction, healthcare, IT, and other careers.
Goodwill of Silicon Valley - Free employment services including vocational training, job readiness workshops, and paid work experience options, with support for people facing barriers including criminal history, mental health challenges, and homelessness.
Sacred Heart Community Services - Offers employment and financial coaching services, with a focus on building pathways to self-sufficiency through community support and advocacy. Located at 1381 S. 1st St, San Jose. Call (408) 278-2160.
Center for Employment Training (CET) - Job skills training and career services with pathways into industries offering higher wages and year-round work
CalFresh Employment and Training (CFET) - Free and voluntary program for CalFresh recipients to gain skills, education, training, and work experience toward a living wage job
Community Connections
AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement) - Culturally and linguistically responsive services including mental health, legal aid, employment support, and family services. Multilingual staff. Call (408) 975-2730.
SOMOS Mayfair - East San Jose community organization offering youth leadership programs for ages 12–18, tenant rights education, and family advocacy in English and Spanish
Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment - Founded to break the cycle of poverty and empower Latino youth and families in Mayfair; offers direct services and pathways to independence
African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) - African American cultural hub in San Jose, offering education, health and wellness, economic development, youth programs, and social services to all Santa Clara County residents.
Vietnamese American Service Center - County-operated center in East San Jose offering health services, senior programs, meals, and community resources for the Vietnamese community. SIREN Located at the intersection of Senter and Tully roads
LGBTQ Youth Space - Community drop-in center and mental health program for LGBTQ+ and ally youth ages 13–25 in Santa Clara County; offers support groups, individual counseling, case management, and leadership opportunities. Located at 2635 Zanker Rd, San Jose. Call (408) 343-7940.
Somos Familia - Supports Latino families with LGBTQ+ children; offers education and family acceptance programming, started by parents for parents.
211 Santa Clara County - Free, confidential hotline and website connecting you to local resources for food, housing, health, and more. Available 24/7 in multiple languages. Dial 211.
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Resource Zone
Resource Zone
Common MHWC FAQ
Common MHWC FAQ
What do we help with?
What do we help with?
We help students with emotional, social, and personal challenges that may affect their well-being or school success. This includes support for stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, identity questions, family or home issues, substance use, and more in a confidential, nonjudgmental environment. We also work as an interdisciplinary care team to help connect students to the right resources across the school and community for a variety of needs including academic challenges, basic necessities, and more.
What services do we provide
What services do we provide
We offer free, confidential support including:
- Risk assessments
- Brief individual counseling
- Support and skills groups
- On- and off-campus referrals
- Connections to school and community resources
Services are designed to support student engagement, success, and overall wellness.
What is the calming space?
What is the calming space?
The calming space is a quiet, comfortable room in the center where students can drop in when they need a place to decompress when challenging moments come up during the school day
Where is MHWC?
Where is MHWC?
The Mental Health & Wellness Center is located in Room 801. To enter the Calming Space, sign in with a staff member. To speak individually with a counsellor, submit a referral.
Who do we serve?
Who do we serve?
We serve all Santa Teresa High School and Phoenix High School students. Any student can self-refer or be referred by staff, guardians, or peers if they need support.
Is there a cost for services?
Is there a cost for services?
No. Mental Health & Wellness Center services are free for Santa Teresa High School students. We do ask for insurance billing information for students receiving ongoing support.
Are services confidential?
Are services confidential?
Yes. Services are confidential, and staff strive to provide a safe and private space for students to talk openly.
However, confidentiality has limits. Staff are required to share information if there are serious concerns about a student’s safety or the safety of others, or in situations involving abuse or neglect, so that appropriate support and protection can be provided. When possible, staff will discuss next steps with the student.
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