JJAB Youth Advocates from left, Caron Inglis, Eagle Sandoval, Cindy Koehler, Katy Fellows and Santina Shije. Courtesy photo

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Youth Resource Specialists and Family Resource Specialists with the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB) will be available throughout the summer to help children, teens and their families even when school is not in session, according to JJAB Coordinator Lisa Zuhn.

 Family Resource Specialists work with children newborn through elementary school and their families while Youth Resource Specialists work with middle school and high school students and their families. The positions were formerly called “advocates” but are now called “specialists”.

JJAB has three Youth Resource Specialists, Santina Shije, William High Eagle Sandoval, and Caron Inglis. Shije primarily works with Los Alamos Middle School students and families. She is a tribal member of San Ildefonso Pueblo and a graduate of Pojoaque High School. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and joined the JJAB team in 2015.

Sandoval began working with middle and high school aged youth in Los Alamos in 2016 but has worked with children and families for almost 30 years with expertise in substance abuse prevention, intervention and mental health issues.

The third Youth Resource Specialist is Caron Inglis who works with high school teens and their families. A former educational consultant and behavior analyst, she has a Master’s of Science degree in School Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Youth Resource Specialists (YRS) provide case management services for youth and their families who live or attend school in Los Alamos County. They assess and identify individual and family needs and strengths and then assist them in finding the resources they need. Sometimes these needs are basic such as food, clothing or housing, and other times a YRS might help someone to find a counselor in town who is accepting new patients. A YRS can connect teens and their families with resources for such issues as school struggles, emotional help, substance abuse, family conflict or distress, or challenges to success.

Young people may be referred by family members, the community, schools, local providers and juvenile probation personnel or they may contact a YRS directly. All services are confidential and free of charge.

Family Resource Specialists (FRS) Cindy Koehler and Katy Fellow operate under pretty much the same protocol and parameters but their work is with newborn through elementary school children and their families. Their initial contact is usually by phone but during their first or second meeting with clients, they establish a formal case plan. Interpreters are available when needed.

Koehler has worked as an assessment specialist, diversion care coordinator, child protective services investigator and foster care case manager. She as a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. Her fellow FRS Katy Fellows formerly worked as a development specialist/family service coordinator at Las Cumbres Community Services in Espanola and has experience as a special needs private tutor and a teacher’s assistant in special education. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Developmental Disabilities.

For additional information about either Youth Resource Specialists or Family Resource Specialists or to make an appointment, call 505.709.8125. Meetings with prospective clients may be held at their home, school, a JJAB office or at local libraries. For more information on these and other JJAB programs, visit www.losalamosjjab.com.