4th Second

4th Second expanded its medical and case management services under the umbrella of its Whole Person Care program, which organizes and enhances services for people experiencing homelessness and those exiting incarceration. By taking a holistic approach, the program provides housing navigation, substance use support, employment preparation and placement, enhanced case management, and street medicine to address the complex needs of these populations. At the core of Whole Person Care is Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Support (CS), which focuses on coordinating basic needs and medical care to promote long-term economic and housing stability. This year, 4th Second provided ECM services to 91 individuals, including those experiencing homelessness and individuals impacted by the justice system or on parole. Through ECM, clients received assistance in accessing benefit entitlements such as food stamps, Social Security, and health insurance. The program also ensured coordination with medical teams and facilitated referrals to substance use and housing navigation services. Substance use navigation was a key component of the program, with in-house support provided by the Care Manager and Substance Use Navigator, particularly for people experiencing homelessness and those reentering society from incarceration. Services included referrals to treatment centers, mental health support, and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. This year, 45 clients were successfully connected to detox facilities, rehab centers, and direct drug counseling. Additionally, the team trained 53 local service providers on substance use disorder, emphasizing the impact of homelessness and incarceration on addiction cycles, as well as naloxone treatment. Among those trained, 20 were prescribing providers who learned how to initiate and manage patients on Suboxone. An additional 30 peers received training on naloxone administration through regular street outreach events. Recognizing that stable housing is critical to long-term stability, the Housing Navigation team worked closely with ECM clients to help them become "document ready" by securing the necessary paperwork to apply for housing. The team assisted 96 clients in identifying and applying for both commercial and subsidized housing opportunities. Additionally, 9 clients received financial support for housing deposits and first month's rent, helping them transition into stable housing. Employment support is another pillar of the Whole Person Care approach. 4th Second offers an employment preparation program designed for individuals experiencing homelessness or who have been involved in the justice system. The program develops personalized employment plans, incorporating job training, resume building, job application assistance, and interview preparation. This year, 46 individuals participated in the program, with 8 securing stable employment. Rounding out the program's services, 4th Second's street medicine team plays a crucial role in bridging healthcare gaps for these populations. While ECM care focuses on connecting clients to long-term primary care providers, the street medicine team brings direct medical services to people where they are. Over the year, the team served 118 unique individuals through 206 separate encounters, providing essential healthcare services such as acute wound care, blood pressure monitoring, COVID testing and vaccinations, chronic disease management, mental health care, and substance use counseling. Through its Whole Person Care approach, 4th Second continues to address the interconnected challenges of homelessness, incarceration, health, and economic stability by providing comprehensive, person-centered support aimed at long-term recovery and self-sufficiency.

As part of the California Economic Mobilization Initiative, 4th Second expanded its community development efforts by building upon its Up Housing Program to support projects that address food insecurity, healthcare access, recuperative care, shelter, and affordable housing. Predevelopment activities included environmental investigations of potential sites, site surveys, and extensive community engagement in the design process, ensuring that local voices were integral to planning. Additionally, 4th Second facilitated coordination between key partners and the City of Vallejo, leading to the submission of preliminary planning applications for two critical projects: a 25-room recuperative care facility and a mixed-use development that would include a grocery store and affordable housing in a low-income, low-food-access census tract. Recognizing the immediate need for access to healthy food, 4th Second also initiated the development of a community garden to activate a vacant lot until it could be further developed into the mixed-use grocery and housing project. Building on designs created by youth in 4th Second's youth programming, community members, staff, and youth collaborated to bring the garden to life. Volunteers engaged in planting native species, learning about soil composition-including the role of clay, topsoil, and mulch in anchoring roots, retaining moisture, and providing essential nutrients. In total, 12 different types of native plants and three varieties of fruit trees were planted throughout the garden. Beyond enhancing the landscape, the inclusion of native plants was emphasized for their ecological benefits, particularly their ability to attract pollinators, beneficial insects, and other wildlife, aligning with permaculture principles and environmental health initiatives. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs will be integrated within the native plant areas and cultivated in raised beds alongside them, ensuring a sustainable and productive urban green space. Through these efforts, 4th Second continues to foster community resilience by promoting food access, environmental stewardship, and inclusive urban development.

4th Second expanded upon its Youth Empowerment Program which seeks to address trauma, support resilience, and provide opportunities for all youth. In 2023, 4th Second continued its work with a cohort of 41 underserved youth to support resilience building, mental health and to prevent substance abuse among low income BIPOC youth ages 12-25. Participants attended bi-monthly sessions where they learned stress reduction techniques, financial literacy-including budgeting, credit management, and understanding taxes-and human-centered design principles aimed at creating safe spaces in their community. To mitigate the traumatic impact of economic insecurity and poverty, youth were provided with basic income stipends. As part of their learning, the cohort conducted a Human-Centered Design Project, identifying the urgent need for safe spaces where youth in Vallejo could gather and connect. This project culminated in the opening of 4th Second's first youth-designed youth center in November 2023, marking the successful completion of the first cohort. Building on this momentum, the 4th Second launched weekly sessions at the newly established Safe Space in January 2024, expanding its programming to address youth suicide prevention, substance use prevention, environmental health and advocacy, and young women's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The weekly sessions covered critical topics such as mental health and suicide prevention, where youth participated in self-care activities and co-created a media campaign promoting suicide awareness. Financial literacy and workforce readiness were also key components, with sessions focused on budgeting, understanding credit, managing taxes and paychecks, as well as resume building and mock interviews. Additionally, youth engaged in sessions on environmental health and injustices, exploring systemic issues such as redlining, white flight, and the lack of green spaces in low income communities. Through these discussions, they examined the significance of safe green spaces, including community gardens, as areas where problem-solving skills and positive coping mechanisms could be developed. Further, youth participated in the design of a community garden, sketching layouts and incorporating elements such as crops they wished to grow, ornamental features, and artistic concepts to create a relaxing and welcoming space. They also learned about organic gardening techniques, including materials for raised beds and soil amendment practices. Beyond the physical aspects of gardening, youth engaged in self-reflection exercises, using nature-based mindfulness techniques to stay grounded.