Surviving Parenthood Guide On-Line

Services for Youth

The major adolescent problems of today are depression, drug and alcohol dependency, pregnancy and suicide. The following six major factors in teenage depression deserve attention:

  • Lack of self-confidence. Feelings of guilt, lack of energy, brooding and sadness often accompany lack of self-confidence.
  • Social abandonment. Feelings of emptiness, death wishes and social frustration.
  • Loss of interest. Difficulty in interpersonal communication.
  • Sadness. Weight changes, grouchiness, frequent crying and feelings of hopelessness.
  • Somatic symptoms. Disturbed sleep and eating habits, feelings of loneliness.
  • Acting out. Desire to run away from home, aggressiveness and lack of self-confidence.

The following programs are specifically geared to helping adolescents and their families:

Community Counseling Center
John F. Kennedy University
(925) 798-9240
Adult, child and family therapy. Support groups for single parents, women, and Adult Children of Alcoholics; special Play Therapy rooms for children. Wheelchair access.  Sliding scale fees.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Oakland: (510) 729-5050
Richmond: (510) 237-4904
Pittsburg: (925) 427-9366
Matches children ages 7-14 with stable mature adults 21-plus in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Provides friendships that increase child's self-esteem and future options. Big Brothers matched with boys in households with no males, also married couples can be companions to boys. Big sisters matched with girls in households headed by male or female. Services are free.

Booth Child Care Center
Oakland: (510) 535-5088
Provides subsidized child care for all parents of children birth to 5 years of age that are eligible for this program. Currently has a waiting list. Free or sliding scale fee. Services available in Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Mien.

Boy’s Group
(925) 798-9240
This group is for 6th and 7th graders who need support with social and communication skills, self-confidence and transition to junior high school. Meets on Wednesday’s 3-4:30 p.m. Per-group session fee. Organized through John F. Kennedy University Community Counseling Center.

Crossroads High School
Concord: (925) 689-6852
Focuses on the academic (high school education/diplomas), emotional, physical, social and related needs of pregnant girls, young mothers and their infants, including daycare for up to 18 months. Services are free.

Foster Youth Services at Mount Diablo Unified School District
Concord: (925) 458-6858
Education support for foster children in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, K-12. Services are free.

Horizon High School
(925) 426-4275
http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us
Dublin, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Tri-Valley area.
A high school program for pregnant & parenting teens. Meets graduation requirements for a high school diploma. Program includes child care, parenting classes, prenatal classes, counseling, employment counseling. Young Fathers Program held in the evening.

Huckleberry House
San Francisco (415) 621-2929
24-hour crisis shelter for ages 11- 17 years. In-house family counseling mediation, medical care, case management, peer health education and counseling for teens suffering from physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, suicide attempts, substance abuse, family violence, in contact with police or probation. Services are free. Spanish services available.

Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP)
(925) 957-2404
The Independent Living Skills Program is designed to successfully prepare young people in foster care and group homes to learn life skills for emancipation. The program also assists in locating housing for youth. The program is available to any teenager or young adult between the ages of 15 and 21 and in foster care.

National STD and AIDS Hotline
(800) 227-8922 or (800) 342-2437,
Spanish: (800) 344-7432 or (800) 243-7889
Free Sexually Transmitted Disease information and clinic referrals.

NEAT Family (New Experiences in Acceptance and
Trust) at Center for Human Development
Antioch: (925) 753-1004
Pleasant Hill: (925) 687-8844
Richmond: (510) 234-5359
Group support and education for teens regarding alcohol, drugs and/or other high-risk behavior. Activities and peer groups held throughout the county. Anger management for families workshops. No charge
for NEAT Family Support Groups.

Pleasant Hill Police Youth Services Bureau
(925) 288-4630 or (925) 288-4642
http://www.pleasanthillpd.com/
Crisis intervention, substance abuse assessment and referral, assistance with runaway and truancy problems, personal short- term counseling and referral for youth, parents and families who live in Pleasant Hill and/or attend Pleasant Hill schools.
Services are free.

St. Vincent De Paul Society
(925) 439-5060
http://www.stvincen.org
Pre-employment classes for youth and adults. Employment opportunities. Services are free. Spanish services available.

Teenage Resource Center
Richmond: (510) 236-5088
Provides a “One Stop” Multi-service center for homeless, pregnant teen mothers, parenting teens (male or female) and their children. Age range is 12 to 19 years old. The purpose of the center is for youth to develop a viable support system for themselves and their children. Program services include: crisis counseling, parent education, showers, laundry, food, baby supplies, academic classes, tutoring and homework help, life skills training, individual needs assessment.

Youth Development Services
(925) 942-3300
http://www.cccoe.k12.ca.us
Jobs for teen parents. Parenting classes available in West County and Pittsburg. Focus on youth development, youth leadership workshops, HIV, STI workshops, communication and life-skills training and parents as first teachers of in-home preschool education for ages three to five years. Services are free. Spanish services available.

West Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau
(510) 215-4670
A comprehensive youth service delivery system designed to improve coordination of services to children, youth and their families with multiple problems. Assessment team, counseling, case management for families of chemically dependent women, diversion and transitional programs, crisis intervention for primary care givers or parents, mentoring programs for youth, advocacy and referral. Services are free.