Lifeline's Community Assessment Team helps kids who are at risk of becoming involved with, or continuing in, the juvenile justice system. If know of a youth experiencing any of the following, the CAT program can help!

• ongoing truancy problems
• behavior problems at school
• trouble at home
• running away
• out of control
• abuses alcohol or other drugs
• violent relationships
• mental health concerns
• family members who are incarcerated or involved in criminal activity
• on formal probation for truancy or other criminal offenses

Services focus on the unique needs of each child while providing supportive services to other family members as necessary to help the child succeed. Youth and families receive referrals to helpful community resources and/or ongoing case management with a goal of decreasing the youth's risk factors, increasing their protective factors, and helping the family to function better as a whole. Lifeline's CAT program helps families to meet their unique needs, stabilize crisis sitations, redirect youth away from negative influences that led to their bad behavior, and facilitate positive development.

CONTACT: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Director of Juvenile Justice Services - (760) 842-6211.

Working to Insure and Nurture Girls Success (WINGS)

WINGS offers gender-specific services to help the increasing number of girls involved in the juvenile justice system. Services include intensive home visiting, family conflict mediation, girls only activities and psycho-educational groups, family counseling, and literacy and tutoring programs. Youth may only be referred to WINGS by the San Diego County Probation Department.

Juvenile Diversion Program

Juvenile Diversion is an early intervention program designed to keep adolescents ages 12 to 17 from entering or re-entering the juvenile justice system through family assessment, counseling and teen psycho-educational groups. Lifeline provides counseling group series on various topics of benefit to our teenage clients. Groups are offered at Lifeline's Vista and Oceanside offices and onsite at select schools within the Vista, Oceanside, and Carlsbad school districts. Lifeline is currently offering teen groups on the following topics:

• Decision Making (8 treatment module series)
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs - ATOD (8 treatment module series)
• Anger Mangement (8 treatment module series)
• Anti-Theft (4 week series, 1 session per week)
• Gang Diversion (8 week series, 1 session per week)

CONTACT: Counseling & Youth Services Intake Line - (760) 842-6214.

Breaking Cycles Program

The Breaking Cycles Program provides interventions to youth age 12 to 17 who have been arrested and adjudicated, and are at risk of continued involvement with the juvenile justice system for reasons such as:

• chronic disobedience
• running away
• curfew violations
• repeat truancy
• drug/alcohol use
• gang involvement
• violent behavior
• weapons use/possession

Lifeline is the lead agency of this county-wide program operated in collaboration with the San Diego County Probation Department, SAY San Diego (Central County), South Bay Community Services (South County), San Diego Youth Services (East County), and Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Juvenile Recovery Specialists from San Diego Youth Services and the McAlister Institute. Youth who attend the Reflections North day program, youth who are seen through Probation's Community Unit, and their families receive in-home family support, parent training, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, educational counseling, and case management. Parent education, support, and involvement is an integral part of the program. Youth may only be referred to the Breaking Cycles Program by the Juvenile Court.

Oceanside Juvenile Justice Center (OJJC)

First-time truant youth and their families are referred to a panel of community volunteers and/or law enforcement members who assign and verify completion of restitution, support, community service work, educational assignments, counseling, and participation in psycho-educational groups as an alternative to more serious legal consequences. If the youth does not fulfill the obligations assigned by the panel, their case may be referred to Probation or the Juvenile Court in San Diego for processing.

Oceanside CalGRIP

This is a targeted outreach and mentoring program for Oceanside residents only. Lifeline partners with the Oceanside Police Department, City of Oceanside, and other community organizations to reduce truancy and prevent Oceanside youth from joining local gangs. Lifeline works with youth picked up for truancy by OPD and their families, connecting them with programs and services that best meet their needs. Services may include participation in Lifeline's Truancy Intervention Project (TIP), Oceanside Juvenile Justice Center (OJJC), gang prevention groups, 1:1 and group mentoring, psycho-educational groups for teens and connection with other community resources. Parents may be referred to Lifeline's parenting classes. Lifeline also conducts outreach through Gang Awareness Conferences for parents and other community members in high-risk areas of Oceanside.

Vista CalGrip - Coming Soon!

This is a targeted outreach program for Vista residents only. Lifeline partners with the Vista Sheriff's Department, the City of Vista, and other community organizations in this gang prevention and intervention focused program.