Jasmine Nájera

(pronouns: she/her/hers) 

Jasmine Nájera is a proud, lifelong Santa Cruz County resident and a dedicated advocate for her community. She began volunteering at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos as a teenager, helping solidify a desire to work with and support system-impacted young people. Jasmine herself was impacted by family members’ addiction and incarceration which taught her resilience, compassion, and the importance of family and community.  After earning a BA in History from UC Santa Cruz in 1997, Jasmine began working with system-impacted youth and soon joined the Children’s Behavioral Health team within the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. After a few years in the field, Jasmine returned to graduate school and received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005. Jasmine continued to work at SCCHS for almost 20 years, and in 2022 she was tapped to be the new CEO for Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA). Her work ensures that youth, children, and families have access to vital programs and services that meet their needs. She is deeply committed to mentoring and coaching her staff, creating pathways for professional development, and empowering team members to earn advanced degrees and become behavioral health clinicians.  

She has served locally as Board Secretary for the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, Board Chair for Monarch Services, and consultant to the City of Watsonville in co-creating the Trauma-Response Multi-Disciplinary Team led by the Watsonville Police Department. In 2024, Jasmine was honored to attend the State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. as a guest of Representative Jimmy Panetta in recognition of her work in the Pajaro Valley and beyond. Jasmine lives in Watsonville with her husband Avery and their two children, Amani and Red, who inspire her every day with their energy, growth, and boundless love.