Why we exist
Who we help
Parents
We support parents with tools, connection, and care—without judgment and without shame.
Youth
We walk alongside youth with mentorship, encouragement, and safe spaces to grow.
Communities
We equip everyday people to build stronger, more connected communities where kids can thrive.
Partners
We collaborate with organizations, schools, and agencies to create a unified network of care.
How we show up.
A community commitment that began in 1987
Raising Shasta has been serving children, youth, and families in Shasta County since November 1987. Originally established as the Shasta County Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, the organization was created in response to a state legislative mandate to strengthen prevention and early intervention efforts addressing child abuse and neglect and to support the community’s response to the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.
From the beginning, the goal was simple but vital: bring community partners together to help protect children and support families before challenges grow into crisis.
Over time, the organization evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. Operating for many years under the name Pathways to Hope, we expanded our work to include parenting education, family support, youth development, and community outreach programs that help families build stability and connection. Today, as Raising Shasta, that mission continues - working to strengthen families, prevent child abuse, and build a community where every child is valued, supported, and able to reach their full potential.
Growing to meet the needs of youth and parents
As the needs of our community have evolved, so has Raising Shasta. Over the years, our work has expanded to support not only children and youth, but also the parents and caregivers who guide them every day.
Today, our organization provides parent education, parenting classes, support groups, and resource connections that help families build stronger relationships and navigate the challenges of raising children in a changing world. Through programs like Triple P and other parent education opportunities, caregivers gain practical tools for communication, emotional support, and healthy family dynamics.
Building stronger community partnerships
In 2024, Raising Shasta expanded its youth services through a merger with Catalyst Mentoring, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing consistent mentorship for students in grades 4-12. This partnership strengthened our prevention and early intervention work by ensuring that more young people have access to trusted adult relationships both on school campuses and at our Family Center.
Later that year, Raising Shasta launched a new youth-centered collaboration with the Redding Police Department and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office through our Teen Centers by establishing the Police Athletic League (PAL) program. The Shasta PAL Boxing Program, based at the Redding Teen Center, combines structured physical activity with mentorship to help youth develop discipline, emotional regulation, leadership, and healthy decision-making skills.
Investing in spaces where youth can belong
.The Redding Teen Center continues to be one of Raising Shasta’s most impactful investments in our community. It provides a safe, welcoming environment where teens can spend time after school, build friendships, explore new opportunities, and connect with mentors who care about their future.
For many families, the Teen Center also represents something just as important: peace of mind knowing their child has a supportive place to go and a network of adults who are invested in their well-being.
As demand for these spaces continues to grow, sustaining and expanding Teen Center programming remains both one of our greatest challenges and one of our most important priorities.
Looking ahead
Nearly four decades after its founding, Raising Shasta continues to bring people together—parents, mentors, educators, partners, and neighbors—to strengthen families and create opportunities for youth to thrive.
Because when a community chooses to show up for its children, the future becomes stronger for everyone.
Meet the Raising Shasta Board Members
A dedicated group of leaders committed to supporting families, strengthening communities, and creating brighter futures for every child.
DS. Jacob Duncan
Chair
Shasta County Sheriff's Department
Dani Hayward
Vice Chair
Redding Rancheria
Karen Simmons
Treasurer
Five Star Bank
Kelly Kafel
Shasta County District Attorney's Office
Baron Browning
Local Business Owner
Michelle Nystrom
Sierra Pacific
Sgt. Joseph Labbe
Reeding Police Department
Jeremy Rosten
Cronic Disaster and Restoration
Austin Preller
Shasta County Office of Education
Be part of our community's solution.
Whether you're here to build a stronger path forward, find connections and resources, or lend your skills or support, we're here to help you take the first step!
