YTEC | Youth Treatment & Education Center

YTEC | Youth Treatment & Education Center

Program Overview

The Path Through YTEC

Why is YTEC Needed?

How Is YTEC Unique?

How Do We Know YTEC is Working?

YTEC provides an education, prevention, treatment, and social justice program that offers a responsible alternative to incarceration for court and drug involved youth aged 14-18. Youth attend YTEC forty to fifty hours a week: Monday to Friday from 8:20am to 5:00pm; Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

The premise behind our programs is as important as the programs themselves. We believe that to embark on a self-affirming path, youth must begin to understand themselves, their families and the larger social and economic conditions that inform their daily lives. They must express their own goals, and chart their own path. They can do that best in a supportive and caring community where each person is accountable to themselves and to each other as they focus on four key questions:


1. Who Am I?	2. Where do I come from?	3. Where am I going?	4. How do I get there?

Diversion: A seven-week substance-use education and prevention course that targets youth in the early stages of their use. The goal is to prevent any escalation in their substance use, and in the high-risk behaviors that often accompany use. This program is taught by Leadership Fellows.

Intensive Day Treatment Services: This program provides comprehensive judicial supervision, substance abuse education and treatment, and individual, group and family therapy. Youth are responsible to attend the program and appear before the judge regularly. They comply with regular curfew calls and agree to random drug testing as they advance through the different phases of the program. Treatment plans reflect participant’s goals and strengths and specific service packages are individually designed to assist young people in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals.

Family Services: Families are encouraged to work as partners with YTEC youth. A liaison works with each family to ensure they can support their child’s participation in the program. Families are offered therapy, parenting classes, and mediation. Parents are invited to quarterly family nights.

The Principals' Center Collaborative High School: An on-site alternative high school developed in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, the PCC offers a high expectation, strengths-based, therapeutic environment with distinct values that inform the content and delivery of the curriculum. The curriculum is project based; a high staff to student ratio allows academic instruction to be tailored to the individual interests, and performance level of each student.

Career and Vocational Development Program: This program is designed to identify each youth’s personal strengths, match interests and abilities with potential careers, and then assist youth in developing the skills needed for long-term vocational success. The first phase includes a pre-employment skills workshop series. In phase II, participants gain valuable work experience through placements including service learning, job shadowing, structured internships, or paid weekend and after-school jobs. Once placed, YTEC provides ongoing coaching and follow-up.

Leadership Fellows Program: This program was launched in response to the need —expressed by YTEC graduates themselves —for structured support to enable youth who have graduated from court-ordered treatment to maintain their gains and to prevent relapse. Designed and led by YTEC graduates, this 12+ month follow-up program offers life and leadership skills development; expressive arts; recreational activities; community service; peer mentoring; preparation for college; and continuous support while enrolled in college, a trades program, or working.