The Youth Services Department provides youth with the care, knowledge, and support they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

With an emphasis in prevention, early intervention and diversion, SBCS works closely with youth to help them acquire the skills and competencies they need to develop self-sufficient lifestyles.

Our programs include housing and support for homeless and runaway youth and youth aging out of the foster care system, as well as counseling, tutoring and job skill training. We work to keep them in school; reduce criminal activity and violence; address substance abuse and mental health issues; assist in their academic achievement; and provide social skill classes.

From youth in need to youth who serve as peer mentors, all youth in the South Bay benefit for our services. We reach over 7,000 youth annually.

Our programs and services include:

• Teen Recovery Center (TRC): The TRC is a day facility providing services to teens who are experiencing difficulties in their lives as a result of substance abuse
  
• Critical Hours Program: After school programs in Chula Vista, National City and San Ysidro are provided for middle school age youth, offering a safe place to participate in educational and enrichment activities. The programs are free of charge to youth who attend these schools.
  
• Community Assessment Team (CAT) – The goal of the CAT Team is to reduce the number of youth entering the Juvenile Justice System by providing early intervention to youth and families. The CAT program also includes a gender-specific component for adolescent females who are involved in the juvenile justice system and their families. 
  
• Juvenile Diversion– a program providing an array of support services for first time youth offenders, run-aways, youth on Probation, and non-offenders and their families
• Breaking Cycles – Provides counseling and case management for high-risk youth currently involved in the juvenile justice system in order to provide support services for the youth and their family.
• Vision Achievement Mentoring - This program works with teens encouraging healthy decision making and assists youth in developing a positive vision of themselves through individual and group mentoring, and family education.
  
• Casa Nuestra - Casa Nuestra provides emergency and transitional shelter for many run-away and homeless youth while encouraging family reunification and/or independent living skills.
  
• Peer Educators and Street Outreach – Teens are trained to positively influence other youth who are in need of support. Peer educators provide outreach to youth and community members regarding issues such as homelessness, gang prevention and other at-risk behaviors.
  
• Children’s Mental Health Services provides school and community based services to children, teens, and their families.
  
• Male Involvement Program (MIP) – Specialized staff partner with various South Bay school and help young men develop leadership skills through a variety of activities. In addition, MIP specialists assist youth in taking responsibility for preventing early and unintended pregnancies as well as identifying and preventing Teen Dating Violence.
  

• Trolley Trestle – Established in 2000, Trolley Trestle offers affordable transitional housing for former foster youth (ages 18 to 21) and/or homeless youth, including their children, while they finish school or training in order to transition to self-sufficiency. A resident manager is available 24 hours and on-site services are provided. All residents are required to actively participate in, and fulfill, all requirements. Residents pay 25% of their gross monthly income.
  
• Excel – The Excel program prepares youth and adults ages 16 to 21 facing serious barriers to employment by providing job training, placement, career planning and other services.
• Independent Living Skills (ILS) – ILS helps current and former foster youth, ages 16-21, make successful traansitions toward independent living by providing multiple services including case management, educational classes, and workshops.

Outcomes
Every year we are able to serve more children, youth and families. And we do so while also increasing outcomes. As a friend, donor, sponsor, volunteer or funder, you have given us the ability to continue providing high-quality services and new innovative programs for the communities of San Diego’s South County. Review our Outcomes.