Ventura County Youth Resources

 

  • 2-1-1 Ventura County: Free 24/7 information and referral line for youth, family, housing, food, health, mental health, child care, and crisis resources. Dial 2-1-1, call 1-800-339-9597, or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
  • Emergency: Call 911 for immediate danger, medical emergencies, or urgent safety concerns.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for immediate mental health crisis support.

Mental Health and Crisis Support

  • Ventura County Behavioral Health Youth & Family Services: Provides psychiatric assessment and treatment, outpatient therapy, case management, intensive care coordination, psychological testing, crisis intervention, and hospitalization support for youth and families. Call 1-866-998-2243.
  • Youth & Family Crisis Services: Mobile crisis support for psychiatric emergencies is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Ventura County Behavioral Health at 1-866-998-2243.
  • Soluna: Free, confidential mental health and wellbeing app for California youth and young adults ages 13-25.

Runaway, Homeless, and At-Risk Youth

  • Interface Children & Family Services Youth Outreach Hotline: 24/7 support for youth ages 12-24 who are homeless, runaway, couch surfing, on the street, at risk of homelessness, or in family conflict. Call 805-469-5882.
  • Interface Youth Shelter: Voluntary, free youth shelter services for youth ages 12-17, including shelter assessment, case management, family mediation, basic needs, tutoring, transportation, and aftercare. Call 805-469-5882.
  • National Runaway Safeline: Call 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929 for confidential support.

Child Abuse, Neglect, and Family Safety

  • Ventura County Child/Adult Abuse & Neglect Hotline: Report suspected child abuse, neglect, or safety concerns. Call 805-654-3200. In an emergency, call 911.
  • Interface Children & Family Services: Provides domestic violence and child abuse prevention, human trafficking prevention and intervention, mental health and trauma treatment, youth crisis and homeless services, justice services, and 2-1-1 information and referral support.
  • Family Urgent Response System (FURS): Free 24/7 hotline for current or former foster youth and caregivers who need immediate support. Call or text 1-833-939-FURS (3877).

Food, Child Care, and Early Childhood Support

  • Child Development Resources of Ventura County: Provides child care referrals, subsidized child care assistance, Head Start and Early Head Start information, parent resources, and early childhood support. Phone: 805-485-7878.
  • WIC and family food assistance: Call 2-1-1 Ventura County for Women, Infants and Children program referrals, CalFresh information, food pantries, and family nutrition resources.
  • SUN Bucks/Summer EBT: California summer food benefits may help families buy food for children during summer months. Check current eligibility and enrollment details through county or state benefit channels.

After-School, Enrichment, and Youth Centers

  • Boys & Girls Clubs: Local clubs in Ventura County offer after-school and summer programs, academic support, leadership activities, recreation, and teen programming. Call 2-1-1 to find the nearest site.
  • Oxnard youth centers and PAL: City of Oxnard youth centers and Police Activities League programs may offer sports, recreation, arts, educational activities, and youth crime prevention programming.
  • Ventura County Library: Local branches offer books, digital resources, homework support, teen programs, events, and community learning opportunities.

Jobs, Training, and Young Adult Opportunities

  • VCNextGen Youth Job Prep and Training: Helps eligible youth ages 14-24 in Ventura County with barriers to employment. Services may include job preparation, training, support services, and career readiness resources.
  • Oxnard City Corps: Offers youth and young adults ages 12-25 opportunities to gain work experience, develop leadership skills, and serve the community.
  • Oxnard EMS Corps: Paid training opportunity for young adults ages 17 1/2 to 26 interested in emergency medical services and public service careers.

Quick Contact List

Need

Resource

Contact

General youth and family referrals

2-1-1 Ventura County

Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-339-9597

Mental health crisis support

Ventura County Behavioral Health Youth & Family Services

1-866-998-2243

Runaway, homeless, or at-risk youth

Interface Youth Outreach Hotline

805-469-5882

Suicide or emotional crisis

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988

Child abuse or neglect reporting

Ventura County Child/Adult Abuse & Neglect Hotline

805-654-3200

Foster youth urgent support

Family Urgent Response System

1-833-939-FURS (3877)

Child care and early childhood resources

Child Development Resources of Ventura County

805-485-7878