There’s something powerful about seeing a student’s eyes light up when they realize they matter , that their feelings, their struggles, and their voices are truly seen. At All It Takes, that moment is what drives our work, and it’s made possible through our work with the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) . This year, we’ve joined forces with VCOE on programs like the Youth Mental Health Conference and their Wellness Peer Program. Through these initiatives, students

The right support, at the right moment, can make all the difference in a young person’s life. That’s where dedicated school counselors come in, and the research proves it. Kathy Pelzer, a founding member of the California Association of School Counselors, has seen it first hand throughout her career. Schools with a full-time counselor see improved attendance, higher graduation rates, and more students heading to college. It’s not just about academic advice; having a trusted a

At All It Takes, we believe that growth doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some students, it means speaking up for the first time. For others, it might mean stepping into a leadership role, reaching out to a peer, or simply choosing to participate. Every young person has their own version of courage—and their own “two steps further.” At a recent field trip for sixth graders, that belief came to life in extraordinary ways. Every student faced something that stretched them

The Detour That Defined Me Have you ever had life hand you a “no” that eventually became the best “yes” you never expected? In 1989, I lived that story. I had applied to a graduate program in School Psychology, confident it was the path I was meant to take. Then came the letter: “Unfortunately, we do not have a spot for you in the School Psychology program, but we would like to offer you a place in our School Counseling program.”  My application was good enough—it just wasn’t

Last year, Autumn Boylan sat down with All It Takes during the California Association of School Counselors Conference to share her perspective on the challenges facing the education ecosystem. Not only is the perspective of the Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the California Department of Health Care Services valuable to the conversation, but her perspective as a parent shows that this conversation is more than policy debates; it's deeply personal f