California Youth Services
PROGRAMS
Mental Health Programs: Pathways Community Counseling Center
Pathways Community Counseling Center provides quality, affordable mental health services for individuals, youth, and families throughout Orange County. Serving clients of all ages, Pathways offers comprehensive mental health evaluations, individual counseling, teen group therapy, and parent/adult support groups designed to meet each person’s unique needs. Our services address a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, substance use, school-related challenges, family conflict, grief and loss, self-esteem, and life transitions. Rather than viewing clients as “patients,” Pathways creates a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where individuals and families actively collaborate in their own healing process. Our approach emphasizes personal responsibility, resilience, and connection, integrating evidence-informed practices alongside 12-step principles that promote accountability, reflection, and long-term growth. Each year, Pathways delivers approximately 1,900 counseling sessions, serving more than 130 clients annually through individual therapy, teen groups, and parent/adult support groups. Services are provided by a team of eight licensed clinicians who are dedicated to helping clients build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and improve overall emotional well-being. Pathways operates out of offices in Tustin and Laguna Hills, offering services in English and Spanish on a sliding scale fee basis to ensure accessibility for all families, regardless of language or financial circumstances. By expanding access to group-based services and culturally responsive care, Pathways continues to meet the growing mental health needs of the Orange County community.
Participants in Pathways Community Counseling Center consistently demonstrate measurable improvements in mental health, behavior, and family functioning. Key outcomes include:
Improved coping and emotional regulation
Approximately 87% of clients report increased ability to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional responses through healthy coping strategies.
Strengthened family communication and relationships
90% of clients and families report improved communication, boundary-setting, and conflict resolution skills.
Reduced mental health symptoms
Over 80% of clients experience a decrease in symptoms related to anxiety, depression, trauma, and school-related stress.
Increased accountability and personal responsibility
Clients engaged in individual counseling, group therapy, and support groups demonstrate improved goal-setting, follow-through, and self-awareness, reinforced through 12-step–informed principles.
Enhanced school and daily functioning
Youth participants show improvements in school engagement, attendance, and behavioral outcomes, while adults report increased stability in daily functioning and decision-making.
Increased engagement in support networks
Participation in teen group therapy and parent/adult support groups results in stronger peer connections, reduced isolation, and increased use of positive support systems.
Sustained behavioral change
Clients receiving follow-up support are more likely to maintain progress over time, demonstrating long-term skill retention and continued engagement in healthy behaviors.
Increased access to culturally responsive care
Bilingual services and group-based interventions improve access and retention for Spanish-speaking clients and families.
Crime & Violence Prevention: DECISIONS (currently on hold)
DECISIONS introduces youth and their parents/guardians to the realities and consequences of incarceration and probation. The program provides youth with the opportunity to evaluate the decisions they have made and gain an understanding of the short- and long-term consequences of those decisions. Participants are referred by school districts, law enforcement, probation, or individual parents. Each session is two, 3.5-hour evening classes held at the OC jail facility in Santa Ana. During class time, OC Sheriff’s Deputies, OC District Attorneys, therapists, former incarcerated youth, and reformed adult felons give youth a realistic look at the legal ramifications of committing crimes, from detailed information on sentencing procedures and legal responsibilities of parents to personal stories from other youth and adults. Approximately 100 youth and 140 parents/guardians participate each year.
First time youth offenders will: 1. Understand the legal consequences of juvenile delinquency and other negative behaviors; 2. Avoid recidivism; and 3. Improve their ability to make wiser DECISIONS. Parents/guardians will:1. Understand the legal consequences of their child’s juvenile delinquency; 2. Improve their ability to identify potential indicators of risks for juvenile delinquency; and 3. Learn about additional resources to help them promote positive DECISIONS for their child.
Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, & Intervention: JADE, School Programs, Drug Testing, Follow up Care and Community Outreach
California Youth Services (CYS) provides comprehensive substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs for youth ages 12–17 throughout Orange County. Our prevention services are designed to educate, intervene early, and reduce risky behaviors before they escalate, while promoting accountability and long-term healthy decision-making. The Juvenile Alcohol and Drug Education (JADE) program serves youth referred by schools, law enforcement, parents, and community partners. JADE is an intensive educational program that helps youth understand the consequences of alcohol and drug use while building decision-making skills, personal responsibility, and awareness of risk factors. The program also engages parents to strengthen communication and reinforce healthy boundaries at home. For school districts seeking tailored responses to substance use policy violations, CYS offers customized school-based prevention programs such as Project Intervention and New Beginning. These programs allow schools to address substance use concerns while keeping students engaged in their educational environment through structured education, accountability, and support. CYS provides both monitored and unmonitored drug testing services for public and private schools, including voluntary on-site testing programs. In addition, CYS offers private monitored testing and take-home test kits for families seeking accountability and early detection tools as part of a comprehensive prevention plan. To support sustained behavior change, CYS offers In the Clear, a therapist-led follow-up program for youth who have completed prevention or intervention services. In the Clear provides ongoing education, peer support, accountability, and connection to resources, helping participants maintain progress, reinforce healthy choices, and reduce the risk of relapse or re-engagement in risky behaviors. Together, these prevention services form a coordinated continuum of care that empowers youth, supports families, and promotes long-term positive outcomes across Orange County.
Participants in CYS’ substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs demonstrate consistent, measurable improvements in knowledge, behavior, and decision-making. Key outcomes include:
Increased knowledge of substance use risks
Over 90% of youth demonstrate increased understanding of the consequences of alcohol and drug use and the impact on mental health, relationships, and academic success.
Improved decision-making and coping skills
Approximately 85% of participants report applying healthier coping strategies and decision-making skills when faced with peer pressure or high-risk situations.
Increased accountability and personal responsibility
Youth participating in structured education, drug testing, and follow-up support demonstrate stronger adherence to program expectations and behavioral goals.
Reduced substance use and risky behaviors
A majority of participants report reduced or discontinued substance use during and following program participation.
Improved school-related outcomes
Youth referred through schools show improvements in attendance, behavior, and compliance with school substance use policies.
Strengthened family communication and engagement
Parents report improved communication, clearer boundaries, and increased confidence in supporting their child’s prevention goals.
Sustained behavior change through follow-up support
Youth engaged in the In the Clear follow-up program demonstrate higher rates of continued sobriety, positive peer connections, and ongoing engagement in healthy activities.
Increased access to early intervention services
Prevention-based programming allows youth to receive timely support, reducing the likelihood of escalation to more intensive treatment or disciplinary consequences.
CONTACT
California Youth Services
23282 Mill Creek Dr Ste 130
Laguna Hills, CA 92653-1678
Margie Diaz
Phone: 949-303-9016