Berkeley Youth Alternatives

BYA is one of the largest community-based non-profit organizations serving children, youth, young adults and their families who are economically disadvantaged in the City of Berkeley. BYA is a well-established, community haven that is culturally diverse and serves over 1,200 participants annually. BYA is situated in an under-resourced area in Berkeley which is populated predominately by African-American and Latino families. The City of Berkeley Police Department reports that there continues to be a need for crisis intervention, counseling, and case management for youth offenders in South and West Berkeley due to chronic truancy problems, the prevalence of gangs, and drug activity.