Community Centers & Recreation
In this section, you will find resources for teens and young adults who want to participate in recreational and community activities throughout San Diego County, such as local recreation centers, clubhouses for specialized needs, activities for a variety of interests, and volunteer opportunities.
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Use the tools below to find the community centers & recreation resources that fit your unique set of needs.
Second Chance: Juvenile Options for Lifelong Transition Program
In 2009, Second Chance launched its Juvenile Options for Lifelong Transition Program (JOLT). The JOLT Program is dedicated to providing a comprehensive custody-to-community reentry model based on evidence based practices with the goal to prevent further involvement with the judicial system and support transition aged youth into adulthood. The JOLT Program provides support for 14-24 year old young adults who are often gang involved or affected, and are transitioning from incarceration back into the community. The program serves high risk, transition aged youth, reentering the community and includes gang intervention activities thus increasing public safety and neighborhood wellness.
619-234-8888
South Bay Community Services: EXCEL Program
The EXCEL program prepares youth and adults to achieve academic and employment success.
(619) 420-3620
South Bay Community Services: TAY Academy
TAY Academy provides a safe, inclusive, youth-led environment planned at multiple locations throughout San Diego County. The program is a collaborative effort between SDYS, YMCA, and South Bay Community Services to offer resources and give support to transition aged youth (ages 14-25). TAY Academy is designed to be a one-stop center for comprehensive services and support on their journey to independence and self-sufficiency. TAY Academy is a “HUB” for transition age youth in accessing resources, focusing on environmental and personal safety. TAY Academy is dedicated to serving at-risk youth in a manner which is knowledgeable of, and sensitive to, the trauma occurring in their lives. Youth from all interest groups and cultural backgrounds are welcome at each center.
(619)-420-3620
STAR/PAL (Sports Training, Academics, Recreation/Police Athletic League)
STAR/PAL (Sports Training, Academics, Recreation/Police Athletic League) is a nonprofit organization that provides over 10,000 youth services annually in inner-city neighborhoods throughout the city and county of San Diego. By bringing youth and law enforcement officers together in this manner, STAR/PAL helps build safer communities in the future.
(619) 531-2718
Street of Dreams: Musicians for Education
Street of Dreams provides a music and arts education, college prep program for teen mothers who are at high risk wards of the court and have been trapped in the juvenile justice system. Our students come from foster care, incarceration, and homelessness.
(619) 282-3355
Turning the Hearts Center
More than ever, communities need organizations that are community sensitive, family-centered, purpose driven and result oriented. Communities need organizations that inherently believe in empowering youth and families, and are committed to restoring family unity and self-sufficiency. One such organization is called Turning the Hearts Center (THC). THC, founded in 2001, grew out of a growing community demand to foster programs that empower youth leadership development and strengthen families. We empower youth and families to thrive, and not just survive!
(619) 691-9643
Union of Pan Asian Communities: Transition Age Youth Biopsychosocial Rehabilitation Program and Clubhouse
The Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) is a nationally recognized non-profit organization, offering multicultural, multilingual, comprehensive physical and mental health services to Asian, Pacific Islander and other ethnic communities. The program provides social education, vocational and community reintegration for clients recovering from mental health issues.
(619) 232-6454
Urban Beats
Urban Beats is an innovative artistic expression program for Transitional Age Youth (TAY). Through
creating and delivering artistic productions and TAY-focused social media messaging, Urban Beats aims to enhance self-sufficiency and increase TAY engagement in behavioral health treatment. Urban Beats utilizes strengths identification and artistic self-expression to fight the stigma related to mental illness and promote youth self-empowerment and improve wellness.
(619)736-5552
Vista Hill: Stein Education Center
Stein Education Center (SEC) is a California-certified nonpublic school providing special education services to students between the ages of 5–22 with histories of chronic and severe social, emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges.
(619) 281-5511
Volunteer Match
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Search and Filter
Use the tools below to find the community centers & recreation resources that fit your unique set of needs.
The resources and services in this directory are provided by external partners and not by San Diego Center for Children.
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Disclaimer
We do not endorse any specific organization listed nor are we responsible for ensuring the quality of the services listed. Users should always select services at their own discretion. Additionally, this information is subject to change as funding for programs can shift over time, though we do our very best to keep the resource center as up-to-date as possible.