Family Strengthening
7
Agencies Engaged
78%
TTUSD 10th-12th graders report substance use is a significant problem among peers.*
$44,500
Dollars raised and leveraged for TTUSD SUN position
Local Youth Asked for More Help with Substance Use and We Responded
Local students are getting more support for substance use, a significant problem facing young people, according to 78% of 10th – 12th graders surveyed at Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD). The new Substance Use Navigator (SUN) will be on campus during the school day as a trusted liaison for students seeking help with vaping or substance use. The SUN will also coordinate education to prevent use, as well as provide brief interventions and warm handoffs to community partners when higher levels of care are needed.
The position was catalyzed by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s (TTCF) Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee (CCTT) Youth Substance Use / Mental Health Working Group. Funded jointly by TTCF and the Katz Amsterdam Foundation (KAF), the SUN fills a critical gap for youth mental health, well-being, and substance use. This approach aligns with the Behavioral Health Roadmap developed through the TTCF and KAF partnership alongside CCTT partners and marks another significant step in providing behavioral and mental healthcare to our community members. Read more.
*Survey facilitated by TTUSD Wellness Center (member of the Youth Substance Use / Mental Health Working Group) to 405 10th-12th grade TTUSD students at end of 24-25 school year
Workforce Scholarships: Investing in Tahoe-Truckee’s Talent
Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) awarded $520,100 in Workforce Scholarships to 27 local students, including 17 first-generation scholars. The average award totaled $19,263 per recipient. These scholarships empower young people to pursue education and training for high-demand careers in Tahoe Truckee.
Since the program’s launch in 2022, 67 students have received $1,253,100 in total, thanks to a network of employers and donors. Scholarships support the pursuit of degrees and certifications in education, medicine, law, vocational careers, and STEM. This year, TTCF introduced three Forest Futures scholarships to help young people pursuing careers in forestry and fire. It is predicted that California will need to double its current forestry and fire workforce to scale up wildfire risk reduction efforts, according to Sierra Business Council. This is one way TTCF is responding to that need, including creating 26 new jobs and supporting the training of 738 people since 2021.
Without this scholarship, I would not have been able to enroll in my program. This award truly alleviates so much financial stress and allows me to pursue graduate study debt-free! Attending Harvard University and completing my master’s in Education and Policy Analysis will allow me to pursue my long-term goal of conducting education research.
Denisse Vega-Zarate
2025 Workforce Scholarship Recipient
To learn more about our community impact and how you can partner with us to make a difference, contact TTCF Donor Services at donorservices@ttcf.net.