Berkeley Youth Alternatives helps youth and their families address issues and problems via prevention- reaching youth before their problems become crises, and intervention- providing support services to youth who are entangled in the juvenile justice system. BYA helps build capacity within individuals to reach their innate potential.

Description:
For over 30 years BYA has met the complex needs of youth in trouble with the law, their schools, their families and themselves. During a period of soaring drop-out rates, juvenile crime, drug abuse, and family breakdown, BYA has developed a comprehensive service network that successfully helps thousands of youth sustain themselves on the difficult journey towards becoming productive and contributing adults. Some of the programs that BYA provides includes our Crisis Counseling Center which targets runaways, chronic truants, children referred from Police and Probation departments, and others who are beyond the control of their parents.

We also offer an Afterschool Center that offers academic assistance to students ages 6 and up. This program includes homework help, activities to build self awareness, environmental education activities, sports, dance, music and art. Our students are also encouraged to work on homework and other projects in the computer lab.

The Teen Center operates 3 evenings per week and offers homework help for our teens. Also provided: sports, SAT workshops, College Nights, guest speakers, field trips and multimedia projects.

The Sports and Fitness Academy offers Twilite Basketball for girls ages 13-18 as well as Pee-Wee basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and Football.

We also maintain several gardens where our teens learn landscaping, gardening and other skills needed to maintain steady employment.

Contact person: Nicholas Wright, Volunteer, Mentoring And Acadmics Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (510) 849-1421

Address:

1255 Allston Way Berkeley, CA 94702 (See a map)

Web Site: http://byaonline.org

Directions:

From 80 west: Exit University Ave. Go straight up University Ave. to Bonar St. Turn Right on Bonar and left on Allston. From 80 east: Exit University Ave. Go straight up University Ave. to Bonar St. Turn Right on Bonar and left on. . . (more)