Family Help in California: Programs and Services

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 awarenesseducation, 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.