Across the nation, youth well-being is in decline—a crisis highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General in multiple recent reports. The city of Santa Cruz has led a sustained, citywide effort to reverse this trend—developing a model for how local governments can invest in youth well-being in meaningful and measurable ways.
In 2018, following the legalization of recreational cannabis, the City Council dedicated 12% of cannabis tax revenue to a Children’s Fund. These funds support scholarships for afterschool and summer programs and fund initiatives that promote mental health, enrichment, and safety for youth across our city. In 2021, voters overwhelmingly approved expanding the fund to 20% of cannabis tax revenue and making it a permanent commitment. That same year, the city adopted a Children and Youth Bill of Rights—outlining commitments to equity, access, safety, education, and civic engagement.
This multi-layered approach— bridging city departments, schools, community-based organizations, and now every local jurisdiction in Santa Cruz County—positions youth well-being as a central pillar of our governance. It also offers a scalable, replicable model for other municipalities: start by identifying untapped or flexible revenue sources, invest in areas that strengthen youth opportunity and engagement, and secure community buy-in through participatory democracy.
Impact or how it will be measured:
Impact is measured through the State of Youth Well-Being Report, a data-driven tool that embeds City of Santa Cruz’s Health in All Policies (HiAP) framework, updated every two years, which measures indicators such as education, mental and physical health, safety, and social connection. Findings directly guide funding allocations and policy decisions. Since 2021, over $740,000 has been invested in local programs shaped by both data and community feedback.
Youth participation is a key measure of success. A Youth Liaison Program, established in 2024, now brings students into city commissions, policy discussions, and project development, ensuring their perspectives inform decision-making. Some qualitative impact stories from youth and families include:
One parent of two adopted children shared how scholarships through the Children’s Fund allowed her boys to participate in sports and outdoor programs—opportunities that would have otherwise been inaccessible.
A youth liaison described the experience of serving as a youth liaison as transformative, saying: “I have learned so much about our local government from this program, and I leave it with a positive attitude towards how government can improve our societies.”