Our youth services and activities are directed at the at-risk and hard-core youngsters of the needed, targeted areas. All programs are carried out by staff who have insight on the lifestyle, problems and strategies for guiding the youth through the difficult period of adolescence.

Direct service provider staff are well received and respected by neighborhood youth. Friendship and rapport are established thereby trust and confidence are the basis of the counselor-client relationship. All our youth programs include full transportation and expenses to field trips, community dances, assistance with individual and family needs. Similarly, all our youth programs provide advocacy assistance with school representatives, parents, Probation and California Youth Authority Parole Officers, Juvenile and Adult Court, in addition to assistance during detention and incarceration.

Each program has been uniquely designed to serve its respective constituency, taking into account such factors as age, ethnicity, gender, as well as the neighborhood and problem areas affected.

The San Diego County Critical Program is a prevention and intervention program for middle school age youth that has two components.  An Educational & Literacy Component where tutoring or homework assistance is provided on one or more of the following areas: language, arts, history and/or social science. And an Enrichment Component, which shall include health, recreation, intervention & prevention activities. The program includes other activities and the expertise of Program Partners who conduct educational work shops and presentations on topics such as anger management, developing social and communication skills with peers and adults, conflict resolution, how to seek advice on career and personal matters, the importance of higher education, as well as issues of self sufficiency. Service Areas: Logan Heights, Barrio Logan and Guadalupe area.

 Provides Literacy and juvenile delinquency prevention services through alternatives such as computer and literacy lab, karate, boxing, weight training, swimming, general recreation, the arts, special events such as Children's' Christmas Party, Halloween festivities, and theme parks such as Disneyland, Three Flags and more. Targeted at Barrio Logan children and youth.

The Grassroots Youth Program was created in response to a growing need for culturally attuned juvenile diversion and prevention counseling services. The focus of this program is to reinforce the family's role in the community and to assist "high risk" youth in attaining the necessary attitudinal changes needed in the process of becoming an active and productive member of society, thus eliminating the need for more formal and costly action within the juvenile justice or educational systems. The provision of free culturally and linguistically suitable, high quality, services are available to the targeted youth and their families. The target population is high risk youth between the ages of 8 - 17 who have been arrested by a law enforcement agency, or minors exhibiting negative behavioral patterns which could lead to future delinquent acts. Examples of which are: repeated academic failure, school suspensions or expulsion, gang activities, serious behavioral problems, including violent acts and anti-social behavior, drug or alcohol abuse, and/or abuse or violence in the family.

 Project STAR Created in 1985, Project STAR works with peripheral and documented gang youth on a San Diego City wide basis. Neighborhood Youth Counselors work with this population during their most difficult years, ages 12 to 21 years. It is during these critical years that these youth are most likely to commit or be the victims of crimes of violence, the results of which can be prison or death. The mission of Project STAR is to alleviate youth gang violence through life in a uniquely designed case management program which allows clients to receive services for up to 9 years. During the course of the case management clients are provided with individual, group and family counseling. Other services provided are educational workshops to inform the youth of the current laws and pending legislation related to gang activity. The thrust of Project STAR is Crisis Intervention as a means of diminishing violence. Targeting area schools, from the elementary to high school levels, Project Star counselors provide a positive impact with regular weekly visits rendering crisis intervention by rumor control and conflict resolution.