YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES
A better alternative. A better tomorrow.
Southwest Key’s Youth and Family Services are based on the core principle that positive change can happen though therapeutic, educational and community-based programs. Our programs are shaped by evidence-based practices and made successful by staff that come from the communities we serve. By providing alternatives to children who are involved in the court or juvenile justice systems, our programs enable them to stay at home with their families and involved in their communities.
Through our programs, young men and women are provided with structure and services that promote positive behaviors and experiences. Our caseworkers partner with families to address individual, family and community issues, such as helping with the transition back home from a correctional facility or institution, assisting parents with employment and childcare, and working with school staff to meet academic and personal needs. Our programs track the progress youth are making while holding them accountable for their actions. These components work together to set the foundation for success, both today and tomorrow.
– Home-Based Individual and Family Counseling Services
– Wraparound Case Management Services
– GPS and Face-to-Face Monitoring/Supervision Services
– Truancy Prevention Programs
– Leadership Development Programs
OUR PROGRAM MODELS:
Community Connections
Community Connections is a four-to-six-month program which aims to keep youth in their homes and communities by decreasing incidents of delinquent behavior, improving family relations, and holding youth accountable. This program serves youth from ages 10 to 17 who are at medium to high risk of being removed from their homes due to delinquent behavior or family conflict. It also seeks to serve their families and provide them with necessary resources to help the youth.
We provide intensive comprehensive services through home and community-based wraparound case management services and individual, group, and family counseling. We also provide face-to-face and telephone monitoring services after curfew. Community Connections services are designed to have a direct impact on the lives of youth by increasing accountability, providing life skills, improving relationships with family, and enhancing both formal and natural supports with those who they are around.
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Community Youth Development (CYD)
Helping today’s youth become tomorrow’s leaders.
CYD programs across Texas provide early intervention and positive development programming in ZIP codes with high risk factors. The goal of CYD is to provide youth in high-risk communities with growth opportunities to develop Youth leadership and prosocial skills through group activities and service-learning projects.
CYD provides key services:
- Academic Support
- Case Management
- Family Focused Activities
- Post High School Readiness
- Youth Leadership Development
- Youth Mentoring
Community Youth Development – San Antonio enrollment is now open for youth and families in the 78218 and 78239 zip codes! Learn more and enroll today!
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Functional Family Therapy
Creating support systems together.
Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a three-to-four-month in-home therapeutic program for youth ages 11-19 and their families. The program serves the family unit and is designed to create a healthy family support system for at risk youth by improving family communication, behavioral dynamics and expectations in the home. FFT therapists provide in-home sessions to youth and their families at least once per week, with case management and check-ins provided on an as-needed basis.
- 24-Hour Referral Response Time
- Culturally Responsive Programming
- Life Skills, Coping Skills and Problem-Solving
- Enhanced Formal and Natural Supports
- Motivational Interviewing
- Evidenced-Based Approaches
- In-Home and Remote Sessions
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Family Keys Plus
Creating positive and sustainable life changes.
Family Keys Plus is a four-month prevention and intervention program with a goal of decreasing truancy and delinquent behavior at school, at home or in the community, as well as addressing family conflict and behavioral health concerns. This program serves youth between the ages of 10-18. Youth referred may be on juvenile probation, but the program can also serve at-risk youth who have been identified as truant or demonstrating disruptive behaviors in school or home, are experiencing family conflict, mental health concerns, and/or substance abuse, and need additional help beyond school-based interventions.
The Family Keys Plus program services are available in the home or community to effectively and conveniently meet the specific needs of each family.
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs
Getting kids back on track to achieve their dreams.
Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEP) offers academic and behavioral program services for youth between the ages of 10-17 who are expelled from their regular home campus due to delinquent behavior. We believe every child has a right to a quality education, regardless of their previous behavioral incidents.
Our programs provide a variety of instructional methods in a safe and secure environment, promote positive behavior change and offer counseling services focused on the holistic well-being of the youth we serve.
Our JJAEPs are trauma-informed campuses designed to re-engage youth by providing a combination of computer-based curriculum, direct teaching and individualized experiential instruction, focusing on the students’ strengths while addressing the behavior that led to the expulsion. We use a multi-tiered approach to social, emotional, and behavior support. Our resolute team works together to holistically address students’ academic and behavioral goals to prepare them for transitioning back to their home campus or their post-high school goals.
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Upward Bound
Upward Bound is a federally funded program established in 1965 as a part of the Economic Opportunity Act, which serves and assists low-income, first-generation college students. Upward Bound exists to increase the rate at which students graduate with their high school diploma, enroll in, and complete a post-secondary education. Upward Bound provides support to students in their preparation for a post-secondary education with free tutoring, one-on-one academic and career advising, college examination preparation, field trips to colleges, internship opportunities, financial literacy education, and assistance with applying and enrolling.
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Youth Tracking Services
Staying accountable. Staying together.
Southwest Key’s Youth Tracking Services program is a community-based alternative to secure detention, for youth between the ages of 10-17, that typically lasts 30 to 60 days. Youth Tracking Services can be an alternative to detention or a support service for community re-integration and supervision after being released from detention or incarceration. Youth Tracking Services utilize daily face-to-face contact, telephone curfew calls, school attendance checks, as well as 24-hour electronic GPS monitoring to keep youth and their communities safe.
These daily face-to-face visits allow for positive interactions and supportive conversations, encouraging accountability, and redirection of potential crises. During these face-to-face visits and curfew checks, Southwest Key staff utilize motivational interviewing techniques and strengths-based language to unearth the youth’s internal motivations and desire for change.
For more information about how to bring this program model to your community, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Disclaimer: This is a partnership with the Georgia Department of Justice. Southwest Key Programs does not charge individual clients for these services.
Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a family and community-based program for youth (ages 12-17) who are struggling with serious behavior issues. MST factors in how their family, friends, school, and neighborhood influence them.
MST equips youth to manage pressures from family, peers, school, and their community, leading to fewer behavioral problems.
Who We Help
- Families with youth experiencing behavioral challenges.
- Youth involved in the juvenile justice, mental health, or child welfare systems.
- Students with significant behavioral issues at school.
Our Services
- 24-hour crisis stabilization
- Access to bilingual staff
- Problem-solving skills training
- Parenting support
How Do I Enroll in the Program?
Let your teacher, probation officer or counselor know that you’re interested in the program. Our staff will call you to provide more information and schedule an appointment to enroll you and your child in the MST program. Staff will begin services when it is convenient for you and your family. For more information about how MST services can help you please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Locations
Southwest Key Programs currently serves Brazoria, Galveston, and Williamson counties in Texas through partnerships such as the Gulf Coast Center, TTCHAT, and EBA.
We are always interested in expanding services beyond our current locations. If you would like to partner with Southwest Key Programs, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
Resources
Williamson County Family Brochure – English Spanish
Gulf Coast Family Brochure - English Spanish
Disclaimer: This program is offered in partnership with participating nonprofits, state and local agencies. Southwest Key Programs does not charge individual clients for these services.
DALLAS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
Southwest Key’s Youth Mentoring Program in Dallas, Texas connects caring adults with youth (ages 10–15.8) who are under the supervision of the Dallas County Juvenile Department.
Through individual and group mentoring, our goal is to nurture strong, impactful relationships that foster positive behavioral change and better decision-making skills. By spending time together —whether doing homework, playing sports, or simply talking—mentors provide vital support and encouragement that help youth navigate life’s challenges and reach their full potential.
What We Provide
- Comprehensive Training & Matching: We carefully match mentors with youth, ensuring compatible interests and personalities for a meaningful connection.
- Ongoing Support: Our staff is here to assist with resources, facilitate discussions with parents, and guide you through every step of the mentoring journey.
- Flexible Options: Mentors can participate in one 2-hour mentoring visit per month or two separate 1-hour visits per month based on the mentor’s and mentee’s available schedule and activity.
Why Become a Mentor?
- Be a Role Model and Empower Future Leaders: Take the opportunity to help a youth build self-esteem, resilience, and valuable life skills.
- Strengthen Your Community: Through mentorship, you become part of a supportive network committed to reducing juvenile system involvement and improving family well-being.
- Gain Volunteer Experience: Whether you’re an experienced mentor or would like to start, this opportunity can allow you to earn volunteer hours or community service credit while making a tangible impact on a young person’s life.
Become a Mentor
We are looking for dedicated individuals who are 21 years or older in the Dallas area who want to make a positive impact in a young person’s life. By offering your time, compassion, and commitment, you can help a child realize their potential and create a brighter future for themselves and their families. You can commit for a period of 4 months or longer.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you’re ready to guide a young person toward a brighter future, we invite you to fill out the Mentorship Application. This brief form will provide us with your contact information and learn more about you and your interests so we can make the best possible match. Once submitted, our team will follow up with next steps.
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