619-420-3620 Contact Us San Diego County, CA

Youth Prevention & Intervention

Strength-based Family Approach

SBCS’ 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. Schools, law enforcement, and partnering agencies refer youth to us who may have a multitude of challenges, so it is crucial to provide a strength-based family approach to meet all needs.

Our programs and services include:

Central Achievement Center

SBCS-led Central Achievement Center provides a spectrum of services to help youth on probation remain in compliance with court orders, avoid reoffending and reach their full potential. The Central Achievement also serves non-probation youth residing in the central region communities of San Diego.

The Central Achievement Center is located in the East Village of Downtown San Diego. Program participants are provided transportation to and from the center each day. Dinner is also provided daily. The center provides youth with opportunities for pro-social activities, games and free time, educational groups, restorative circles, music engineering and production and job readiness. A full-time therapist is available to provide individual, group and family therapy, as needed.

Partners include Barrio Logan College Institute, Combat Arts, The David’s Harp Foundation, Junior Achievement, Manpower, Project A.W.A.R.E., Shaphat Outreach and others.

Community Assessment Team (CAT) 

The CAT Team works to keep kids in school and out of the Juvenile Justice System by providing early intervention to youth and families. The program provides an array of support services for first-time youth offenders, runaways, youth on Probation, and non-offenders and their families as well.

Alternatives To Detention (ATD)

ATD is a countywide program coordinated by SBCS to provide a continuum of detention alternatives to low-risk juvenile offenders by providing case advocacy, home confinement, reporting centers, anger management, cool beds, supervision and structured activities, intensive case management, and wrap-around family services.

ATD began as a successful three-year pilot program in South and Central regions of San Diego County and was recently awarded a grant from the Board of State and Community Corrections as part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Funds (JAG) to expand county-wide. SBCS’ ATD partners include San Diego Youth Services, SAY San Diego, North County Lifeline, and Mental Health Systems.

Groups and Gender Specific Groups

In addition to individual and family therapy is a wide variety of gender-specific group services facilitated by SBCS specialist, including Girls Groups, Boys Groups, and Seeking Safety Therapeutic Group.

This is a team effort.

Together with local law enforcement, Juvenile Probation, Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD), Chula Vista Elementary School District, South Bay Union School District, and various other community agencies throughout the county who refer youth and support, we keep youth in schools and support youth and families to become thriving members of society.

For more information contact SBCS at (619) 420-3620.