Mountain Community Resources (MCR) is a local family resource center that has been serving the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley communities since 1982. We offer a network of programs and services designed to help people thrive. We work directly with individuals and families to build a strong community – one person, one family, one neighborhood at a time.
Open Monday – Thursday, 9am – 3pm
OUR MISSION
The mission of Mountain Community Resources is to build a strong Valley community-one person, one family, one neighborhood at a time-by helping people to help themselves.
OUR SERVICES
Established in 1982 in response to deadly mudslides, Mountain Community Resources is a family resource center serving the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley areas. Since most county offices and other social service agencies are more than an hour away by local public transit, MCR’s programs and our collaboration with public agencies and non-profit groups facilitate the local delivery of a range of human services to an isolated, rural population.
Our program participants are individuals and families, youth with personal concerns, and youth on probation referred by the courts, medically challenged persons, homeless individuals and those on the brink of homelessness, parents in need of counseling and support, preschoolers, and a growing Latino population. After a natural disaster, our services support the entire community and provide a central hub for organizing a response.
Community Advocacy
We provide bilingual, short and long-term advocacy to access resources and set goals to address issues related to a variety of concerns including, housing, employment, healthcare, disability, insurance, counseling, education, substance abuse recovery, domestic violence prevention, and child care. Advocates are available for short-term advocacy, walk-in appointments from 9-11:30am and by appointment for long-term advocacy from 1-4:30pm, Monday-Thursday.
Latino Advocacy
In additional to the bi-lingual advocacy services listed above, we also provide translation assistance for parents with children in local schools, and facilitate English as a Second Language classes. Contact our Latino Advocate for more information.
Youth Advocacy
We provide advocacy and support to probation-assigned youth and their families in San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley communities. Services include case management, community outreach, and coordination of court mandates including school attendance, community restitution, employment and counseling. Our Teen Advocate mentors youth to become contributing members of their community by involving them in collaborative opportunities, volunteer work, and leadership roles.
Together In the Park
At Together in the Park, we offer free parenting resources, crafts, music, stories and healthy snacks. Parents, family members and/or caregivers and their infant/preschool aged children meet for supervised play and group activities on Wednesdays 10:30am - 12:00 noon. April-October, we meet at Felton Covered Bridge Park and November-March we meet at Mountain Community Resources.
Parent Education
We offer a variety of parent education classes and one-on-one sessions addressing a wide range of topics, including: Preventing Tantrums, Dealing with Disobedience, Traveling in the Car, Fighting and Aggression, Managing Chores, and The Power of Self-Esteem. Both classes and individual sessions are available in Spanish and English. Contact us for class schedules or to book an appointment with one of our parent educators.
Emergency Preparedness
We offer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings twice a year, in partnership with local emergency response agencies. Classes are available to teens and adults at no charge, and all materials are provided. Speakers are available to present to local groups on topics related to emergency preparedness. We also staff and support the San Lorenzo Valley Emergency Network, and host an emergency ham radio station within our agency.
Promotoras
We sponsor trained volunteers working to link community members with information and resources related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Other Resources at Mountain Community Resources
Because of the isolated nature of the valley communities, access to information and services is difficult. Some of the ways MCR responds is by providing free public computer terminals with internet access, free meeting space for community groups and events, and convenient access to our collaborative partners. These partners include: Healthy Families, SC County Mental Health Department, California Rural Legal Assistance, and other independent service providers. Contact us for more information on how to use our space, and for up-to-date information on the collaborative partner schedule.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), another program of Community Bridges, provides low-income women and their children through age 5 with healthy food vouchers and nutrition education, and breastfeeding support. Call (831) 426-3911 to discuss eligibility and to make an appointment to meet with WIC at MCR.
Donations
MCR is funded by private grants, government contracts and donations from people like you. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please send it to:
Mountain Community Resources
236 Santa Cruz Avenue
Aptos, CA 95003
Phone numbers
Reception: (831) 335-6600
Information and Referral: (831) 335-6607
Community Advocacy Program:(831) 335-6605
Latino Advocacy Program: (831) 246-2061
Together in the Park Playgroup (TIP):(831) 335-6605
Teen Program:(831) 335-6302
Emergency Preparedness Program:(831) 335-6606
Promotoras Program:(831) 335-6607
