SAN MARCOS, Calif. — San Marcos Unified leaders described collaborative efforts with city and county partners to address youth safety, mental health and engagement, including a Violence Prevention Task Force and school‑based support programs.

Christie Frias, district staff lead on community partnerships, said the Violence Prevention Task Force brings together city council members, the city manager’s office, the sheriff’s department, fire department, district staff, community organizations and the district attorney’s office to deepen understanding of local youth challenges and identify potential solutions.

Frias described Rise Above, an eight‑week, no‑cost program led by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for children ages 9–12 that pairs youth with mentors and includes family participation, leadership training, conflict‑resolution education and community service. She said the program combines mentorship and life‑skills education to build belonging and reduce risk.

At the site level, Frias cited Raices and Mariposa at Mission Hills High School as models that expanded counseling and graduate‑level intern support. She said those site programs produced measurable results: a 44% decrease in suspensions for participating students, a 27% increase in students reporting they feel safe at school, and a 16% increase in students believing they can make positive future choices.

Why it matters: district staff said coordinated partnerships make prevention and early‑intervention work possible, and that cross‑agency relationships built through the task force lay the groundwork for more action‑oriented work.

Clarifying details: the task force includes city and county agencies and community partners; Rise Above targets 9–12 year olds and includes family participation. The site metrics cited apply to participating students; the district did not provide total participant counts or longitudinal study data in the meeting.

Looking ahead: Frias asked partners in the room to stand and be acknowledged and said the district will continue to expand cross‑agency prevention work.