Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc.

HYC empowers Long Beach youth to thrive in healthy families and communities. Through our Starting Point Youth Substance Use Treatment and Education Program at our Long Beach office at 920 Atlantic, we work to reduce the impact of alcohol and drug use among youth and within families and help youth chart paths for health and success. To address the needs of youth ages 12-17 who are struggling with alcohol or substance use or dependency, our Starting Point Program helps youth develop skills to achieve and maintain sobriety, make healthy behavioral choices, repair and strengthen family bonds, and move toward a promising future. Services include assessment, intensive case management, individual, family, and group counseling, youth peer support, and support for parents/guardians. Long Beach is one of the areas in Los Angeles County most in need of substance use services specifically designed for youth.

For 29 years, HYC has served at-risk, low-income youth and their family members from our Long Beach agency offices, first at 1133 Rhea within Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Central Long Beach and now at 920 Atlantic. Our community organizing group, Long Beach Advocates for Change, has been making a difference in the MLK, Jr. Park community for more than 10 years through advocacy to bring about change by providing information and resources at community events and collaborating with other local groups to bring the community together. Additionally, HYC delivers counseling, evidence-based positive youth development services, and peer support opportunities for youth on five school campuses in the Long Beach Unified School District. Through building trusting relationships with the young people we are privileged to serve, we support and assist youth to effectively cope with challenges and realize their goals. HYC is dedicated to making a difference and helping youth thrive, grow, and be empowered to make change for their future!

Testimonials

"My accomplishments from HYC services have included getting help in order to become a stronger person and help others in my community. I was able to graduate a year early because I learned that staying out of trouble and becoming a better person who is kind and responsible would prepare me for my future and help me stay on track in life. Because of all of the support from HYC Staff and the many guest speakers I was introduced to, I have stayed off probation, out of jail, and off drugs, which has changed my life around. There has been love and kindness shared and I feel like the program and people have changed me for the better."

"I thought the program was going to be another one of those groups they make you go to because you are on probation and in trouble and I was ready to not like it. I changed my mind because it was different from other groups. I liked getting to talk to guest speakers and how every day was different. I never felt judged or like I couldn't be myself. I am glad I joined and I have learned a lot of lessons that will help me in my future."