Berkeley Youth Alternatives

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND THEIR FAMILIES ADDRESS ISSUES AND PROBLEMS VIA PREVENTION BY REACHING YOUTH BEFORE THEIR PROBLEMS BECOME CRISES, AND VIA INTERVENTION THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUTH ENTANGLED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. BYA HELPS TO BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN INDIVIDUALS TO REACH THEIR INNATE POTENTIAL.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: A) THE AFTERSCHOOL CENTER TARGETS 50 CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AGES 6-14, WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THEIR LITERACY AND MATH SKILLS. THE CENTER INSTRUCTS PARTICIPANTS IN COMPUTERS, ARTS & CRAFTS, HEALTH, GARDENING, SPORTS, AND DANCE. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CHESS CLUB, ZUMBA, CAPOEIRA, AND MENTORING. VOLUNTEER TUTORS FROM UC BERKELEY AND OTHER LOCAL COLLEGES SERVE AS IMPORTANT ROLE MODELS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS. THE AFTERSCHOOL CENTER IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY CENTER FOR HEALTHY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, ALAMEDA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF BERKELEY AND THE ALAMEDA COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY. B) THE COUNSELING CENTER, WITH ITS INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH AND THE REACH OUR CHILDREN (ROC) MEDI-CAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE "WRAP-AROUND" MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THE CENTER PROVIDES SERVICES FOR OVER 125 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT. THE COUNSELING CENTER IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, THE ALAMEDA COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY, THE CITY OF BERKELEY AND CONTRA COSTA HEALTH SERVICES. C) CAREER DEVELOPMENT & PREVENTION CENTER PROVIDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT, WORK READINESS TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 14-24. THE CENTER WORKS WITH 225 PARTICIPANTS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH BASIC SKILLS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE CENTER IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, ALAMEDA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY. D) THE YOUTH AND FAMILY OPPORTUNITY HUB AND SPARK HEALTH PROGRAMS OFFER HEALTH SERVICES AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR OVER 500 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY AND PROVIDES YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AGES 14-24. SOME PARTICIPANTS STRUGGLE WITH POVERTY AND RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OBESITY, AND DIABETES. THE PROGRAMS SUPPORT YOUTH WHO ARE AT-RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE, ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, ENGAGING IN HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS, ARE IN POOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND WHOSE PARENTS AND/OR GUARDIANS ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT IN SETTING APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES AND RULES SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND ARE ABLE TO BECOME PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY. THE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY CENTER FOR HEALTHY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, ALAMEDA COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY, KAISER PERMANENTE, SUTTER HEALTH, FOUNDATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.