The following California programs and services offer help and support to struggling and troubled teens and their families.
Also see Support Groups: Hope and Healing Through Community
Aspergers Support Groups in California Listing provided by the Parenting Aspergers Community. See Aspergers Syndrome Help and Support >>>
Autism Society of California 800-328-8476 Public awareness, education, research, support, and advocacy to improve the lives of all affected by an autism spectrum disorder.
Bill Wilson Center 408-243-0222; 408-279-8228 24/7 Family and individual counseling, runaway and homeless youth shelter, support groups, parenting classes, transitional housing for youth (ages 16-22), health and prevention education.
Boys To Men Mentoring Network 619-469-9599 Mentoring program for boys, ages 12-17.
California Coalition Against Sexual Assault 916-446-2520 Professional organization providing resources to rape crisis centers, individuals, and other entities committed to ending sexual violence. al violence. Find a crisis center near you >>>
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence 800-524-4765; 800-799-SAFE 24/7 Statewide coalition of domestic violence agencies and victim service providers. Find crisis services, shelters, and programs by county >>>
Camp Max Straus 323-456-1152 Non-sectarian summer residential camps and sports mentoring program for children, ages 7-15, in the greater Los Angeles area.
Clean Slate, Inc. 562-945-9111 Gang recovery support. youth empowerment groups, counseling, and low-cost tattoo removal that helps to erase the visible signs of gang involvement.
Cocaine Anonymous of Northern California 12-step fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction. Find a meeting >>>
Covenant House California 323-461-3131 Hollywood; 510-379-1010 Oakland Short-term crisis shelter and programs for homeless and runaway youth, ages 13-20, including counseling, health services, HIV/AIDS testing, education, and employment. Visit Runaways & Missing Children: Help and Support >>>
David & Margaret Youth and Family Services 909-596-5921 La Verne Residential program for adolescent girls, shelter care for adolescents, adoption assistance, mental health services, substance abuse recovery program, self-injury program, family preservation and support, treatment for learning disabilities, transitional living program, and mentoring programs.
Episcopal Community Services 619-228-2800 National City Programs addressing homelessness, unemployment, addiction, mental illness, domestic violence, and children’s care and education.
Fred Finch Youth Center 510-482-2244 Ext. 0 Almeda; 619-281-3706, Ext. 100 San Diego; 510-439-3130, Ext. 103 Contra Costa; 650-286-2090, ext. 237 San Mateo Programs and services for children, youth, young adults, and families to heal from trauma and lead healthier, productive lives. Short-term care, outpatient and in-home services, residential treatment, transitional living help for young adults.
Huckleberry Youth Programs 415-668-2622 San Francisco; 800-735-2929 TTY Services and residential program for homeless, runaway and other at-risk youth in San Francisco and Marin counties through shelter, counseling, HIV prevention, and crisis intervention.
Job Corps Centers in California 909-887-6305 San Bernardino; 562-983-1777 Long Beach; 213-748-0135 Los Angeles; 916-394-0770 Sacramento; 619-429-8500 San Diego; 408-254-5627 San Jose; 415-277-2400 San Francisco Free residential education and job training program for at-risk California youth, ages 16-24. See Free and Low-Cost Schools and Teen Programs >>>
Learning Disabilities Association of California 909-621-1494 Volunteer organization of parents, professionals, and adults with learning disabilities whose purpose is to promote and support the education and general welfare of children and adults of potentially normal intelligence who manifest learning, perceptual, and/or behavioral handicaps. Find LDA-CA in your area >>>
Mary’s Shelter 714-730-0930 Comprehensive residential care for pregnant teens in Santa Ana.
Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center 800-578-2592; 707-423-2545 Fairfield; 415-884-3535 Novato Parent-run information and resource center helping families of children with special needs in Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties.
National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse 916-448-5911 Northern CA; 213-625-5795 Southern CA Free information and referral regarding substance abuse, mental health and related services, and opportunities to be involved in nationwide prevention, research, and advocacy efforts for Asian and Pacific Islanders.
National Guard ChalleNGe Programs in California 800-926-0643 Grizzly Youth Academy; 562-936-1750 Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy A preventive youth-at-risk program for unemployed drug-free and law-free high-school dropouts, 16 to 18 years of age. Core components of the program are citizenship, academic excellence (GED/high school diploma attainment), life-coping skills, community service, health and hygiene, skills training, and physical training. The five-month residential phase is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth’s community. See Free and Low-Cost Schools and Teen Programs >>>
Southern California Counseling Center 323-937-1344 Los Angeles Sliding fee individual and family counseling, teen violence prevention group, abuse prevention program, and outreach services.
Team of Special Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) 714-533-8275 Main Office; 866-828-8275 Parent Training and Information Center that provides assistance in seeking and obtaining needed early intervention, educational, medical or therapeutic support service for children.
The Girls Middle School 650-968-8338 An all-girls middle school for high-achieving, low-income students located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Joyful Child Foundation – In Memory of Samantha Runnion 866-7-JOYFUL (866-756-9385) Proactive approaches in dealing with the difficult issues of violence against children through programs that educate, empower, and unite families and communities.