Our Community Options for Youth (COY) program provides mental health support to young people and families involved in the San Francisco juvenile justice system. COY works with high-risk youth ages 12 – 24, including pre-and post-adjudicated youth who are either at risk of out of home placement, or are reintegrating into their communities from out-of-home placement. Services include assessments, individual and family psychotherapy, targeted and individualized case management, therapeutic arts and recreational activities, and more. They have been providing this critical work since 2008. Please check out COY’s program page on our website to learn more about this critical program, and about the referral process.
Community Options for Youth (COY) Program Staff Intro
We are excited to be continuing our “Meet CJCJ staff” series with an introduction to COY’s Bilingual Clinical Case Manager and MSW Intern David Luna below! Thank you COY and David for the work you are doing with our young people and their families, we are all made better by it.
Bilingual Clinical Case Manager and MSW Intern David Luna
Meet COY’s Bilingual Clinical Case Manager and MSW Intern David Luna
Name & PGP: However you introduce yourself: David
Job Title: What do you and in what department?
I am a Bilingual Clinical Case Manager and MSW Intern with Community Options for Youth. As a clinical case manager, I provide mental health services in the school, home, and community settings, perform case coordinations, advocate for youths, develop relationships with family members, school staff, service providers, public defenders, and attorneys. I enjoy working, building relationships, and trust with my clients. Some clients look up to me as a big brother or someone who cares, therefore I do my best to develop their skills to become self-sufficient.
As a MSW Intern, I provide therapy services in similar settings and roles of case management.
Behind the scenes fact about you:
I like all sorts of sports. Played soccer for many years! I also have a soccer coaching license. No longer play it :( I am also a huge fan of the San Francisco 49ers. I love Mexican food and am gradually becoming a foodie.
How would you describe your job to a friend?
I would describe my job as a place where one can develop their own identity as a social worker and it is a place where one can make a difference in their community.
Why is this work important to you?
This work is important to me because it gives young people the opportunity to be understood and advocated for regardless of their current circumstances.
Dreaming out loud: If you were given unlimited funds to build out part of your program, what would you create and why?
If I had unlimited funds, I would create an after school program where clients can come in to receive unlimited resources. Our clients often need more than what we can provide. They often need clothing, haircuts, and financial assistance. This program would increase self esteem and decrease insecurities.