Child Welfare Systems

Foster Care

For children, youth and families that are engaged with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Children’s System of Care and the Child Welfare System, The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is a place to find support, connections, education and training for behavioral health issues.

Transition Age Youth

The TAY Population, or Transition Age Youth, is an important demographic in San Diego. Transition age youth are older teens and young adults between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five. TAY youth may be served in the Children Youth and Families System of Care. The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is a good place to find TAY population education, resources, information and support for behavioral health issues.

  • CA Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-843-5200

  • Cool Bed Program Cool Bed is a voluntary short-term residential placement for youth (ages 12 to 17) and offers temporary shelter and structured yet nurturing supervision from a certified host family, providing youth and their families a two-week cooling off period.  During the program, youth are transported to their regular school activities and provided individual/group counseling, family counseling, recreational activities, self-esteem development, anger management support, and independent living skills training. Cool Bed works toward successful family reunification at the end of the program and is committed to linking families to aftercare services.

  • Teen Support Groups: East and Central San Diego County: San Diego Youth Services or call 619-258-6877 for a list of teen youth groups. North San Diego County: North County Lifeline or call 760-726-4900 VISTA area, 760-757-0118 OCEANSIDE area. South San Diego: South Bay Community Services

  • Teen Support Groups – Specific Topic Groups. Visit this page to see what groups are currently available, and follow up with the individual group leader to join.

  • Talkspace.com is an online therapy platform for teens and adults where you can access therapy on your phone. Teens under 18 will need their parent’s consent. Signing up is easy. Visit this link for the teen site: https://lp.talkspace.com/talkspace-for-teens. This link will take you to the site for 18+ https://www.talkspace.com/.

  • Healthy Relationships Teen Group – A Free group for teens ages 13-19 offering a safe space to talk about relationships and related to domestic violence. Participants have the opportunity to learn and practice healthy relationship skills in a supportive environment. Click here to learn more.

  • Kickstart for prevention and early intervention of mental illness

  • New Alternatives provides TBS: Therapeutic Behavioral Services is a short term one-to-one behavioral mental health coaching service for full-scope Medi-Cal (EPSDT) children, youth, and young adults up to age 21 and their families or caregivers with moderate to severe emotional or behavioral challenges. To learn more please call 619-615-0701 or visit http://bit.ly/TBSbrochure

  • Transitional Aged Youth in North County

  • Just In Time – for transition aged foster care youth

  • Mental Health Guide for College Students – Compiled by CollegeStats, this guide helps to educate students and their families/friends on how to identify the early warning signs of mental health issues.

  • MHS Families Forward offers Wraparound Services for at risk youth. Learn more by calling (858)380-4676 or email: grahimi@mhsinc.org

  • WrapWorks – San Diego Center for Children offers a wraparound program for children and teens in the foster and probation systems. Contact Carrie Kintz Program Director or call (858) 569-2170.

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

  • Going to College: A Resource Guide for Teens with Disabilities

  • MAST – Mobile Adolescent Services Team – (619) 398-3261 – Provides services for at risk children and youth  who are uninsured or underinsured, have Medi-Cal, meet Title 9 criteria for specialty mental health services (SED). No one is denied services based on inability to pay.

  • For Military Families surrounding supporting teens with a parent’s deployment: Teens & Deployment: What to Expect and How to Help 

  • Testing.com features a directory of local non-profit organizations in San Diego that provides a wide range of free health care services to help stop the spread of STDs in your community. Click here for more details.

Teen Substance Misuse

Co-occurring Disorders

For youth and families that are or are not engaged with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Children’s System of Care, The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is a place to find support, connections, education and training for behavioral health issues, addiction issues, and issues with Co-occurring Disorders.

School Aged Children

Special Education

For families with children and youth who are engaged with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Children’s System of Care and who may or may not receive Special Education Services – or are looking for information and services to support their school aged children or youth with behavioral health issues and needs, The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is a great place to find education, resources, information and support for behavioral health issues.

LGBTQIPA

For those youth and families that are engaged with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Children’s System of Care and identify as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, Asexual and Ally community, The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is a welcoming and culturally competent place to find support, connections, education and resources for behavioral health issues.

Juvenile Justice

For those children, youth and families that are engaged with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Children’s System of Care and the Juvenile Justice system.

  • Pathways Community Services: Catalyst and Oasis Clubhouse, provide full services to TAY youth ages 16-25 with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. A member run clubhouse. Contact: Jill Yelnick at jill.yelnick@pathways.com or call 858-300-0470

  • Neighborhood House Assoc Project Enable Wellness & Recovery Center, for adults 18 and over with severe and persistent mental illness and/or co-occuring disorders. Specific programs also available for TAY youth (18-25). Direct email: jayoung@neighborhoodhouse.org.

  • Vista Hill,  Contact: 858-514-5101

  • Vista Hill Juvenile Court System Services Juvenile Court Clinic

  • Second Chance, Contact: 619-234-8888

  • On Track for Middle School and High School students in Poway, La Mesa or Chula Vista School Districts. Diversion program designed to help students make better choices.

  • South Bay Community Services; 1) Youth Prevention & Detention 2) Alternatives to Detention

  • Alternatives to Detention (ATD) provides services to low-risk juvenile offenders under age 18 – 24 hour response team (619) 838-5514

  • Harmonium – FYPP, Free services to children and TAY (age 5-25), Free of charge, no insurance required.

  • Pathways – Cornerstone, a school-based program providing mental health services and psychiatry services to youth , ages 5-21, and their families who are Medi-Cal eligible or uninsured. Contact Mary Ellen Baraceros at mary.baraceros@pathways.com or call 619-640-3266

  • Exodus Recovery, Inc., Project Connect, serves those who have been involved with the criminal justice system and who are living with mental health issues. Services include Urgent Care Centers, Walk-in Assessment Centers, and AB-109 services. Contact Kali Morgan, MFT at kmorgan@exodusrecovery.com or call 619-849-1775

Faith Based

Faith Communities are a place where many families find support and encouragement, as well as pastoral care and practical support. The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is another great place to find education, resources, presentations, and training for behavioral health issues.

Families

Miscellaneous Resources

For parents, families and caregivers of children and youth that are currently or formerly engaged in the San Diego County Behavioral Health Services Children’s System of Care (BHSCSOC), The Children, Youth & Family Liaison is your place to find regular support, resources, education and information to help you and your family. Resources also available for parents, families and caregivers of children and youth who are NOT engaged in San Diego County’s BHSCSOC and are looking for assistance in helping families thrive.