The Youth Services component of the SLO County Community Mental Health department for the central county is located at 1989 Vicente Street in San Luis Obispo. The treatment team provides outpatient therapy, school-linked outpatient intensive treatment services, and case management services to seriously emotionally disturbed youth ranging in age from preschoolers to age 18. In addition, children’s services are provided at the Atascadero clinic for North County residents and in Arroyo Grande for South County residents. 

Program staff includes licensed clinical social workers; marriage, family and child therapists and interns; psychologists; licensed psychiatric technicians; psychiatric nurses; and a consulting psychiatrist. 

Most important, the primary goal of Youth Services is to reduce the psychiatric symptoms/behaviors so that the child can remain safe at home, in school, and out of trouble. 

Referrals

All referrals and requests for services are taken by the Central Access Team intake worker at 1-800-838-1381. The intake worker determines if the request for service is appropriate for our program or may make a referral to other community resources, if indicated. 

Outpatient Services

Outpatient services for children and their families are provided at four clinic sties: San Luis Obispo, Atascadero Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande. These services include individual, group and family therapy, as well as psychological assessment and psychiatric evaluation, when appropriate. 

The goal of outpatient therapy with youth is to improve the behaviors, the emotional state, and/or thought process of the children while they remain in the community. Every effort is made to involve family members in the therapeutic process and to work cooperatively with other agencies to offer a multi-agency approach to clients’ needs. 

·        Parent Partners Program

·        Juvenile Services Center Information and Resources

·        School-Linked Programs

·        School Entitlement Services (AB3632/Chapter 26.5)

·        Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS)

·        Foster Care Intensive Case Management

·        Head Start

·        Healthy Start

·        Abused Children’s Treatment Program (ACTS)

·        Interagency System of Care (SAFE-SOC)

·        Intensive Mental Health Services (AB3015)

·    Partnership program with Transitions-Mental Health Association