Our Services
We offer a comprehensive set of services across a broad variety of categories. Learn more below!
Child Well-Being
Childhood is the foundation upon which life is built. At SBCS, we offer coordinated services to ensure every child has access to healthcare, a safe place, a good meal, and an education.
The only one of its kind in San Diego County, preschool provides specialized services and quality early education for children ages three to five years old. The preschool is free, full-day and bilingual with a student ration of 1 to 9 and three full-time therapist on staff.
Free for all children ages 0 to five (or right before they enter kindergarten), healthy development services help families confirm important milestones as their children grow, develop and prepare to start school. Services include parenting classes, behavioral services, and developmental services. Funded by First 5 San Diego.
For expectant parents and parents of newborns who are in the military, immigrant/refugees, teens or low-income families, First 5 First Steps strengthens child and family relationships by providing support, education, and guidance through home visits. First 5 First Steps is funded by First 5 San Diego.
Our children’s mental health programs offer a comprehensive array of outpatient therapeutic services for both children and adolescents. In addition, we also provide mental health prevention and early intervention services for children in Chula Vista Elementary School District, National School District, San Ysidro School District and South Bay Union School District.
Group parenting classes are available for parents with children ages 0 to 18. Group classes offer parents the ability to learn about their child’s development, new parenting techniques and skills, and to receive support from other parents. Educators utilize the STEP Curriculum to teach classes in both English & Spanish. Classes are specific to the ages of children & focus on: 0-5, 6-12, and 13-18. Classes are free and meet Welfare & Institutions Code requirements. Graduates receive a certificate of completion & STEP book. This service is subcontracted to Jewish Family Service & information on classes and client participation can be obtained by contacting: Graciela Cabral at (619) 585-5133 or CSFSouthIntakeCoord@csbcs.org.
Many of our in-home visitation services utilize the evidence-based SAFECARE curriculum for children under age 12and their families who are at risk or have been referred to Child Welfare Services. Trained staff work with families in their home environment by providing four to six months of intensive parenting training focusing on parent-child interaction, improving their home safety and child health issues. SafeCare is funded by the United Way of San Diego and the County of San Diego. SBCS and Social Advocates for Youth San Diego provide county-wide training and on-going coaching in the SafeCare curriculum to contracted Community Services for Families agency staff.
One of seven in the nation, this five-year initiative supports 50 disadvantaged children and their families in San Ysidro who have been impacted by childhood and community level trauma. This trauma-informed model helps develop sustainable life skills needed to deal with the demands of everyday life and develop skills that lead to healthier lifestyle choices. The model reduces high-risk behaviors due to childhood trauma and strengthens protective and resiliency factors.
Youth Development
We work to keep young people in school; reduce criminal activity and violence; address substance abuse and mental health issues, assist in their academic achievement; and provide social skill classes.
SBCS’s programs provide various support networks to help current and former foster youth overcome challenges including support with housing, counseling, life skills, education and job readiness training.
Chula Vista Promise Neighborhood (CVPromise) is a comprehensive program that brings together a collaboration of partners focused on supporting family, education, health and community to inspire all children in the Castle Park neighborhood of Chula Vista to achieve academic excellence and aspire to a college and career track.
SBCS provides a curriculum for youth specific community groups, along with discussions for parents and school staff about the topic of reproductive and sexual health at local schools.
Our staff works independently and with area partners to identify homeless teens and conduct outreach to ensure they receive the help and support they need. Learn More.
Our children’s mental health program offers a comprehensive array of outpatient therapeutic services for children and adolescents. Services include individual therapy, family therapy, crisis intervention, case management and links to additional resources. Services are also provided in Spanish (servicios en Español).
Located at SBCS Trolley Trestle Youth Hub, Our Safe Place (OSP) provides a wide variety of services for LGBTQ youth and their families, including support for alcohol and drug abuse, coming out, depression, family relationships, gender identity, sexual health, safe dating and transitioning.
Provided through a strength-based family approach, our Youth Prevention and Intervention (YPI) provides gender responsive prevention, diversion and intervention support services for at-risk youth, ages six to 18, and their families. Within the framework of YPI are supports from specialists in the Community Assessment Team, Juvenile Diversion, and Alternatives to Detention who provide individualized focus.
Serving youth county-wide, LEAP is a secondary bridging program which provides youth with 6 – 8 weeks of academic skill remediation, work readiness and life skill development as well as college and career exploration and preparation.
The HERE Now program creates a safer place to learn with suicide and bullying prevention education for 7th to 12th graders. In collaboration with San Diego Youth Services (link) and North County Lifeline (link), HERE Now is active in 81 schools in 18 school districts in San Diego County.
SBCS After-School also provides an array of programs for the whole family. We know that home stressors can affect a student’s academics and achievement. Therefore, SBCS After-School also serves as a platform for linking youth and families to additional resources available at SBCS to help the WHOLE family.
South Bay Community Services is dedicated to ensuring that every youth has the opportunity to dream big and achieve their goals.
Family Wellness
From counseling to support to emergency shelters and transitional housing, SBCS is dedicated to providing a holistic approach that helps families and individuals survive and overcome difficult situations.
Our treatment and case management services assist survivors of domestic violence in recovering from the trauma experienced in an abusive relationship.
This 24 hour/7 days a week emergency response unit is the first and only in San Diego’s South County region. Working closely with local law enforcement and stationed at all South Bay Police Departments, DVRT specialists accompany police on all domestic violence calls. SBCS Hotline number 1-800-640-2933.
Children’s Mental Health Services provides individual therapy, family therapy, and case management to children and teens. We also provide support to Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater Union High School District schools with mental health services.
SBCS provides emergency shelters, transitional housing, affordable housing and rental assistance & rapid rehousing programs.
Group parenting classes are available for parents with children ages 0 to 18. Group classes offer parents the ability to learn about their child’s development, new parenting techniques and skills, and to receive support from other parents.
Community Engagement
We work every day to strengthen our community through involvement, partnership and a shared desire to lift up and empower children, youth, and families for a better healthier tomorrow.
Promotoras are bilingual trained parents from the neighborhood who serve as an important linkage between programs and community.
Our Resident Leadership Academy (RLA) encourages community members to actively engage in the issues that affect their lives like public safety, civic engagement, and overall community and well-being.
In partnership with community members, faith-based partners, Smart Food Foundation and San Diego Food Bank, SBCS offers healthy food distribution and hot meals on a weekly base throughout South County San Diego. Learn More.
Begins January 28, 2019, to April 15, 2019. Available for low to moderate income residents (annual income of $51,000 or below). Learn more about this program.
