Youth Facilitators FAQs

This page answers common questions Youth Facilitators may have about the Fresno County ACEs Innovation Project to help justice-involved youth. Here, you can understand your role as a youth facilitator, expectations, the training provided to support you, and what benefits you can receive from taking part in this project.

If you have more questions, contact us at (559) 601-0153 or FresnoACEs@aurrerahealth.com.

    • The Fresno County ACEs Innovation Project is a research project to understand how to help young people in Fresno County stay out of trouble with the law. Youth will have the opportunity to share their ideas and experiences to help the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health create better programs for youth.

    • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are the sad or hard parts of a person’s story that happen when they are young that can affect them later in life.

    • Youth Facilitators will lead training sessions on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and help co-facilitate focus group discussions as part of the Fresno County ACEs Innovation project.

    • Get Training: Learn how to lead a training on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and guide focus group discussions.

    • Lead and Co-Facilitate Sessions: Lead training and co-facilitate focus group discussions alongside the project team.

    • Earn Money: Get paid for your time during training and each session you co-lead.

    • The time commitment includes a 3-hour train-the-trainer session, a 1-hour focus group prep and coaching session, and approximately 3.5 hours for each session (training session and focus group) that you co-lead. You can co-lead as many sessions as you want.

    • Youth aged 17–24 who live in Fresno County and are currently or have been involved in the justice system (for example, probation, informal probation, or have/had a pending case) within the last 3 years are eligible to sign up.

    • You could receive $200 to attend a train-the-trainer session and a focus group coaching session and may receive $200 for every 3-hour session you co-lead. Stipends for transportation and childcare services are also available.

    • Enjoy Free Food: A meal from a local restaurant will be provided during sessions.

    • Leadership: Learn to lead groups of justice involved youth to gain an understanding of how stress and trauma can affect them, as well as share their experiences to help improve youth services.

    • The session will take place at a community organization in Fresno County or at the Juvenile Justice Center in Fresno County. You will receive more information after you sign up and schedule to co-lead a session.

    • Sessions are scheduled based on your availability during weekday afternoons/early evenings and weekends. You’ll be able to sign up to co-lead sessions that best fit your schedule.

    • When filling out the Intake Form, let us know your transportation needs. You can receive a bus card or an Uber/Lyft card or gas card of up to $25 either before or after the session to help you get to and from the session.

    • You can let us know on the Intake Form if you need support for childcare services. You can receive a stipend of up to $60 for childcare services before or after the session.

    • You can co-lead as many sessions as you want. You will be paid $200 for each session (training session and focus group discussion) you co-lead.

    • You will receive training, coaching, and ongoing support from the project team to prepare for and co-lead sessions. You can also access the following resources for support at any time:

      • Central Valley Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

        • For emotional distress, alcohol or drug use, or someone to talk to call this line for support.

      • Mobile Crisis Response: 559-600-6000

        • For support with mental health and substance use crises.

      • 24/7 Access Line: 1-800-654-3937

        • For information on services, screening, referral, and linkage and/or eligibility information for various services in Fresno County.

      • CalHOPE Warm Line: 1-833-317-HOPE (4673)

        • For support by phone, video conference, or chat for anything related to stress, anxiety, depression, and any worries.

      • Soluna App

        • For free, confidential mental health support, coping tools, and crisis resources designed for California teens and young adults.

    • Your responses will be included in a report to help the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health create better programs to support youth. We will not share your name or any details that can be used to identify you in the report. Any information shared will be used for research purposes only.

    • Yes! No prior facilitation experience is necessary. The project team will provide training and additional support.

    • If you cannot attend the full 3-hour session, contact the project team as soon as possible at FresnoACEs@aurrerahealth.com to or call/text (559) 601-0153 to let the team know. Our team will work with you to reschedule or adjust the session as needed.

    • Yes, as long as you meet the requirements you can participate as both a Youth Facilitator and a participant. To be a Youth Facilitator, you must be at least 17 years old.