The mission of San Diego Center for Children (SDCC) is to promote the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities by providing an array of proven and effective mental health, educational, and social services.

Founded in 1887, SDCC is San Diego’s oldest accredited non-profit organization. Today, SDCC has become a leader in providing mental health services to children and families within our community. We offer a variety of programs for children facing behavioral, emotional, social, and educational challenges.

SDCC programs support Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and re-establish the learning process while meeting the specific mental health needs of the children and adolescents we serve.

SDCC programs include:

• Six day treatment programs, located throughout San Diego County, serving both children and adolescents (Discovery Hills, Discovery Valley, LifeSchool, and one at each of our residential treatment programs)
• One outpatient program in East County
• A Foster Family Agency (Special Families)
• The Learning Academy, a Non-Public School serving children and adolescents, located on our Kearny Mesa campus
• Two residential treatment programs for children ages 6-13, (RCL 12 and RCL 14) located on our Kearny Mesa campus
• One Residential treatment Program for adolescents ages 13-17 (RCL 14) located on our Kearny Mesa campus
• A Wraparound program to assure that a child’s return to their community is successful, and that families have the tools they need to support their child in this success.

Children living at San Diego Center for Children demonstrate impairments in multiple life domains, including self care, relationships with peers and family, school failure, oppositional behavior, poor self esteem, aggressive or assaultive behavior, lack of motivation, emotional liability and a lack of good judgment. They also show evidence of a psychiatric disturbance that typically manifests multiple signs and symptoms which are seen in disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, impulse control disorders, and developmental disorders. Finally, most children have experienced exposure to inescapable, enduring, and potentially traumatizing experiences.

San Diego Center for Children provides a variety of therapeutic activities for each youth. They are designed to improve social functioning and self image; understand developmental stage and organizational skills of each youth; meet individualized treatment needs; develop new skills and interests; and to provide a means for appropriate self-expression. Sessions include team sports, non-competitive games, aerobic exercise, bike riding, swimming, and field trips. Other more passive sessions include board games, art, music, writing and word games, study skills and creative play. Sessions are developed by a Certified Recreation Specialist and carried through by the Recreation Therapist and/or the CDC staff.