WATSONVILLE — This Thursday is the president’s annual State of the Union address, where Joe Biden is scheduled to address both the House and Senate about his administration’s agenda and major changes over the past year.
It is customary for members of parliament to invite important figures from their constituency to attend speeches with them. This year, Congressman Jimmy Panetta, whose district covers much of Santa Cruz County, selected Jasmine Najera, a licensed clinical social worker and CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Advocacy, as his special guest. .
A longtime resident of Santa Cruz County, Mr. Najera served as Forensic Supervisor and Behavioral Health Program Manager for the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency from 2006 to 2021. In 2022, he was appointed CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Support, succeeding Erica. Padilla Chavez has been named CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County.
Since 1991, Pajaro Valley Preventive Student Support has provided health education, mental health services, substance abuse intervention and prevention services, and direct counseling to meet the mental health needs of students. Services offered include restorative justice programs, alcohol and drug prevention, youth leadership programs, school-based counseling, immigrant Head Start programs, parenting workshops, and more.
“Many young people in California’s 19th Congressional District and across the country are experiencing increased social pressures and academic stress,” Panetta said in a statement. “Behavioral health coaches like Jasmine not only provide care and support to students in our community, but they also help identify and advance innovative solutions needed by today’s youth. We are proud to continue fighting for the federal support our communities need to tackle this crisis head-on, strengthen mental health resources in schools, and enable our youth to reach their full potential. I think so.”
Najera will join other State of the Union guests from around the country in the House Gallery of the U.S. Capitol. In her statement, she expressed her excitement at being named Panetta’s guest at the event.
“Regardless of their background, income level or zip code, families deserve access to treatments, services and programs that promote overall health,” she said. “We are honored to attend the State of the Union address as Congressman Panetta’s guest and highlight the work being done in our communities to provide behavioral health services to youth. We look forward to working together to expand treatment and workforce development efforts to combat the growing mental health crisis.”
Panetta’s guests in past years have included Adriana Gonzalez, a college student from Salinas who immigrated to the United States with her family as a Dreamer. former Monterey County farm worker Pablo Martinez; and Chuck Hammers, owner of Pizza My Heart, whose Capitola Village location was damaged during last year’s severe storms.
Biden’s speech will be televised on all news channels at 6 p.m. Thursday, on the White House YouTube channel (Youtube.com/@WhiteHouse) and on the White House website (Whitehouse.gov/state-of- The event will be streamed live on the-union-). 2024/.
