Jae Canas, MPH - Founder & Community Health Scientist
"I recovered my immense will to live when I realized that the meaning of my life was the one I had chosen for it." -
Paulo Coelho
Powered by pain, passion, and a flame for justice, equity, and inclusion, Jae created The Mental Mentors as a platform and site to find up-to-date tools, including approaches, best practices, and studies that support System Impacted Youth (SIY) and Transition Age Youth (TAY), and the professionals that serve them. As a former SITAY, Jae advocates for the peer movement and SITAY to lead the deconstruction and redesign of the mental health care system and for behavioral health professionals to think differently about their approach to care and "treatment" of system-impacted young people.
Long Beach City College - Puente Project
Puente Project Club President
2010-2013
Puente Project's mission is to increase the number of educationally underrepresented students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations. The program is interdisciplinary in approach, with writing, counseling, and mentoring components.
UCLA - Guardian Scholars
Program Assistant & Summer BGSA Youth Coach
2013 -2016
The Guardian Scholars Program is committed to improving the educational outcomes for current and former foster youth by providing services and support to meet their needs through transition, graduation, and post-graduate planning.
National College Attainment Network (NCAN)
2019 & 2020
Advocacy in DC day, where foster youth had the chance to speak directly to their congressional representatives and speak about the issues affecting their communities. Washington, D.C.
Safe Place for Youth
Education and Employment Specialist, 2017
Serving unhoused youth, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth living with mental distress and substance use challenges.
United Friends of the Children
Counselor, Scholars Program, 2018
Serving current and former foster youth students in grades 10th through 12th in all 8 SPAs in Los Angeles County.
Past Projects (click to view)
