On September 20, Program Director Gerardo Barraza and Primary Counselor Shawny Truong proudly represented Mid Valley Outpatient (MVOP) at a TORCH Program presentation hosted by the El Monte Police Department.
Primary Counselor Shawny Truong served as the presenting counselor, leading the discussion for local youth engaged in the program. The event provided participants with a deep understanding of the realities and consequences of substance use. Through interactive discussions and personal testimonies, youth learned how substance use can impact health, relationships, decision-making, and long-term goals, along with strategies to resist peer pressure and make healthier choices.
Reflecting on the event, Shawny Truong shared: “Having been a troubled youth who had to travel through our justice system, it brings nothing but passion, compassion, and joy to be able to work together as a team to heal our younger generation and assist in being change agents to break intergenerational trauma and chains in whole family bloodlines.”
MVOP has been actively participating in the TORCH Program for over a year, collaborating with the El Monte Police Department to support at-risk youth in the community. The TORCH Program (Teaching Obedience, Respect, Courage, and Honor) is a 12-week youth intervention initiative designed to guide teens toward positive change. It combines mentorship, counseling, physical fitness, and structured activities to help participants build discipline, self-respect, and responsibility. A core part of the program is substance use prevention education, which equips youth with knowledge about the dangers of drugs and alcohol while providing tools to develop resilience and make decisions that support their future success.
MVOP is honored to continue collaborating with the El Monte Police Department in these prevention and education efforts. Together, we are working to empower youth, prevent substance use, and promote healthier communities.
