A health, legal, and educational advocacy program for youth 9-13 years of age.  Our program combines health assessments, one to one mentoring, and comprehensive case management in order to improve the health and overall well being of each participant.  All youth must be in grades 4-8 and live in the the Linda Vista, Clairemont, Downtown, Kearny, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Oceanside areas.  

Volunteer mentors are caring and committed individuals who meet weekly for a minimum of one hour for one year with a focus on “relationship building”.  Requirements for all mentors include: comprehensive screening (fingerprinting and background checks), orientation, ongoing trainings, two references, completed application, a current TB test (within two years), and a signed contract.  Get our mentor application here.  

SDYCS Awards computers to youth for displaying exceptional work in school.

Our unique approach:  

Teen Choices utilizes a “Treatment team” and “strengths based” approach to mentoring.  mentoring as an intervention used in conjunction with other services in order to address complex challenges;  mentors receive high level of supervision and support;  program interacts with systems affecting youth served. 

“Fran and her mentor, Melissa pictured on one of their many outings together this time, a Teen Choices Helicopter tour at Camp Pendleton. 

Fran Overcomes Difficult Times with Help from her mentor 

. . . . . . .  This relationship helped Frannie grow and mature to a stageing which she was able to build more positive relationships with adults. 

                        “Mentoring has changed my life in so many ways . . . . . 
 

Detailed Program Information 

Youth are referred to TC by a network of youth serving agencies and individuals including Public Defenders Office, school counselors and teachers, and social workers. Program participants benefit from a variety of services: 

• Health risk assessments and referrals All teens complete Kaiser Permanente’s Teen Choices and Challenges on-line and “teen friendly” assessment.  Recommendations and referrals are then given to both youth and parent/guardian if necessary. 
• One to one mentoring remains same
• Comprehensive Case Management utilizing a “team” approach Case managers work with each youth to develop and implement an Individualized Service Plan (ISP).  Culturally sensitive case management supports and supervises both mentor and mentee and helps to ensure access to and utilization of health, dental, and mental health services. 
•  Multi-Disciplinary Team A multi-disciplinary team of professionals meet  on a monthly basis to address critical issues and develop strategies for interventions.
• Extensive tracking and monitoring Teen Choices staff monitor grades, attendance, performance, effort, and behavior as well as medical, dental, and mental health visits.  Data is collected at six to ten week intervals from parents/guardians, schools, and health providers.
   

Contact Information

Teen Choices
6780 Miramar Rd., Suite 200A
San Diego, CA 92121
858-831-0434


Mentoring Works
 

Kids need multiple caring adult relationships in his or her life to weather adolescence.  Research shows volunteer mentors can play a powerful role in reducing drug and alcohol abuse and youth violence, while greatly enhancing a young persons prospects for leading a healthy and productive life. 

Mentoring helps young people overcome challenges by reconnecting them to broader society.  Fortune magazine states, the number one indicator of success for a child is a good relationship with a caring adult. 

A 1995 impact study of Big Brothers Big Sisters shows mentored youth are: 

§       46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

§       53% less likely to skip school

§       33% less likely to get in fights 

The Quantum Opportunities Program, funded by the Ford Foundation showed that high school students from families on public assistance who had mentors were more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college, become involved in community service and be hopeful about their future. 

Youth also believe in the successes of mentoring.  A 1998 survey conducted by The Commonwealth Fund shows mentors helped young people a lot in the following areas: 

• Feelings about himself/herself with 62% of young people
• Poor grades with 48% of young people
• Hanging out with the wrong crowd with 42% of young people
• Getting into trouble outside of school with 47% of young people
• Skipping school with 52% of young people
• Smoking, drinking or drug use with 45% of young people
• In the area of sexual activity with 25% of young people