Youth S.O.S.

Youth SOS Update
March 2024

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Youth SOS (pilot program) will be closing its doors this summer. Over the last two years, our Youth SOS service has had the privilege of serving and connecting with the incredible community and breaking ground on mobile crisis response here in San Mateo County. While Youth SOS will not be continuing, we are excited to announce our partnership with a new 24/7 all-ages external mobile response team starting in Summer 2024. Please stay tuned for more information coming soon.

Mobile crisis response for San Mateo County residents ages 0-25.

The Youth Stabilization, Opportunity and Support (S.O.S.) Team is a 24/7 mobile crisis response team of service to any child or youth under the age of 25 that is experiencing an escalation in mental health symptoms within San Mateo County. The Youth S.O.S. Team response includes two response teams that will overlap during a 12-hour response time each day. Those teams are comprised of a mental health clinician and a family partner. The family partner’s role is to help support the family as well as the youth in crisis and assist with resource linkages. The Youth S.O.S. team is publicly accessible by calling the 24/7 hotline, 650-579-0350.

The response team will work with the family until all concerns have been addressed utilizing trauma informed de-escalation strategies. Clinicians will implement the level of intervention and care needed to maintain safety for the family and youth. The multi-disciplinary team will provide appropriate resources to the youth and family at the time of response and through follow-up, which may include:  

  • Linkage to existing services

  • Coordination with physician and/or psychiatrist 

  • Basic needs assessment 

  • Other community supports 

Our services prioritize the needs of marginalized ethnic, linguistic, and cultural communities in San Mateo County. This includes youth that have experienced abuse, foster care, unstable housing/homelessness and those youth that belong to the LGBTQ+ community. Our Youth SOS Team is also responsible for in-person response for the California Family Urgent Response System (CAL-FURS). The CAL-FURS program is in place to support current and former foster youth as well as their caregivers when crisis occurs.