Youth Programs (COPY)

The Empowerment Center (TEC), offers a variety of youth programs aimed at building resilience, leadership, and life skills among young individuals. These programs are designed to support youth in their personal and academic development through virtual classes, workshops, and training sessions.

OUR CORE YOUTH PROGRAMS

This flagship program focuses on helping middle and high school students discover their personal strengths and develop leadership skills. It includes components such as the Strengths Discovery Program, Youth in Government, and Financial Literacy classes on job readiness and entrepreneurship.

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TEC’s SEL Institute provides weekly virtual group sessions led by trained mental health professionals. These sessions aim to teach children and families essential skills for social development, emotional management, and character building. The institute also offers parenting support and wellness tips.

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This 12-week virtual training program is for CA youth 18 and older, empowering participants to become trusted messengers in their communities. The program also offers supportive services such as virtual mental health support groups, laptops, and training in trauma-informed care and mental health first aid.

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Become a Mental Health Community Health Worker!

The Empowerment Center’s Mental Health Community Health Worker (CHW) Program is a 12-week virtual workforce development initiative designed to prepare youth and young adults (ages 18–24) for careers in mental health, behavioral health, and community-based support services. Rooted in lived experience and culturally responsive practices, the CHW Program bridges the gap between wellness and wellbeing, and trains underserved communities to fill the urgent workforce gaps in California’s mental health system.

Program Overview

Delivered through a dynamic online platform, this program trains participants to become peer mental health advocates, entry-level professionals, and community health leaders. By combining personal storytelling with clinical skills and wraparound supports, the CHW Program empowers youth to serve as trusted messengers within their communities—while laying a strong foundation for long-term career advancement.

🎯Key Training Areas Include:

Trauma-Informed Care and resilience-building strategies
Mental Health First Aid certification
Health and Social Services Navigation
Mental & Behavioral Health Communication & Peer Advocacy
Job readiness and professional development workshops

🌍 Impact-Oriented Benefits

Laptops to eliminate digital barriers
Weekly virtual mental health support groups led by licensed professionals
A trauma-informed curriculum co-developed by mental health experts and youth mentors
Post-program career coaching into stackable credentials, apprenticeships, and employment pathways

💡 Why This Matters

CHW Academy Graduates are well-positioned for careers in:

- Mental health roles in education, healthcare, and Community-Based organizations
- Peer counseling and Lived-Experience Specialists
- Case management and outreach
- Social Work, public health and human services

Click to Learn More and Enroll for Our Next Cohort!

The Empowerment Center is now providing virtual classes at Pacific Coast Academy, Mission Vista Academy, and Cabrillo Point Academy! These 4-week academic and life skills classes for Middle School and High School students include our flagship Social and Emotional Institute and Strengths Discovery Program.

Parents, if you have a child who attends one of these schools on the Home School campus, search “The Empowerment Center” to select a course to attend during the school year. Want TEC’s classes to come to your school? Contact us today to learn more!

TEC’s

Social and Emotional Institute

Do you want your kids to learn how to make and keep friends? Do you need parenting support and a place to find wellness tips for you and your children?

TEC’s Social and Emotional Learning Institute provides skill-building opportunities, innovative training, and a community of belonging for students, parents, families, and youth-serving agencies. Our classes teach children and families essential skills to facilitate social development, focusing on managing big emotions and character building. Weekly group sessions are held on ZOOM with trained Mental Health professionals. Contact us for upcoming sessions!

Strengths Discovery Banner 4x8 - Made with PosterMyWall (4)

💎 Strengths Discovery Program – Uncovering Potential. Unlocking Purpose. Building Leaders.

The Strengths Discovery Program is a foundational component of The Empowerment Center’s Youth Leadership Academy. Grounded in evidence-based and asset-based frameworks, this program guides middle school and high school youth through a transformative journey to identify, understand, and apply their unique personal strengths—empowering them to lead with confidence in education, relationships, and future careers.

🔍 What It Is

This interactive workshop series helps participants:

Recognize their natural talents and capabilities
Understand how those strengths can be leveraged in real-world settings
Develop a personal growth plan tied to leadership, academics, and future goals
Build self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and positive identity

💥 Why It Matters

Many youth are too often defined by barriers rather than potential. The Strengths Discovery Program helps young people see themselves as powerful, capable, and worthy of investment which improves:

Academic confidence and classroom engagement
Leadership behaviors in group or peer settings
Career exploration aligned with personal values and passions

📈 Outcomes for Youth

“When I learned my top strength was ‘Empathy,’ I realized that I’m not too sensitive—I’m actually powerful because I understand people. Now I want to become a therapist.” — Youth, Age 16

Increased self-esteem and positive identity formation
Improved communication, teamwork, and decision-making
Alignment between personal strengths and educational or career pathways

IN THEIR OWN WORDS…

Listen as Donna Lione in her role as Assistant Superintendent of Student Support of Temecula Valley Unified School District, shares about TEC’s impact in the lives of students and families.

Tammy Wilson, CEO of Oak Grove Center, recognizes Tiffany Baker for transforming the lives of foster youth through Character Development!

The Empowerment Center Family University - Restorative Parenting Series

The Empowerment Center Family University -The Restorative Parenting Series (9)

Youth Leadership Academy

The Empowerment Center (TEC), offers a variety of youth programs aimed at building resilience, leadership, and life skills among young individuals. These programs are designed to support youth in their personal and academic development through virtual classes, workshops, and training sessions.

OUR CORE YOUTH PROGRAMS

Become a Mental Health Community Health Worker!

Program Overview

🎯Key Training Areas Include:

Trauma-Informed Care and resilience-building strategies

Mental Health First Aid certification

Health and Social Services Navigation

Mental & Behavioral Health Communication & Peer Advocacy

Job readiness and professional development workshops

🌍 Impact-Oriented Benefits

Laptops to eliminate digital barriers

Weekly virtual mental health support groups led by licensed professionals

A trauma-informed curriculum co-developed by mental health experts and youth mentors

Post-program career coaching into stackable credentials, apprenticeships, and employment pathways

💡 Why This Matters

CHW Academy Graduates are well-positioned for careers in:

Mental health roles in education, healthcare, and Community-Based organizations

Peer counseling and Lived-Experience Specialists

Case management and outreach

Social Work, public health and human services

TEC’s Social and Emotional Institute

💎 Strengths Discovery Program – Uncovering Potential. Unlocking Purpose. Building Leaders.

🔍 What It Is

This interactive workshop series helps participants:

Recognize their natural talents and capabilities

Understand how those strengths can be leveraged in real-world settings

Develop a personal growth plan tied to leadership, academics, and future goals

Build self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and positive identity

💥 Why It Matters

Many youth are too often defined by barriers rather than potential. The Strengths Discovery Program helps young people see themselves as powerful, capable, and worthy of investment which improves:

Academic confidence and classroom engagement

Leadership behaviors in group or peer settings

Career exploration aligned with personal values and passions

📈 Outcomes for Youth

“When I learned my top strength was ‘Empathy,’ I realized that I’m not too sensitive—I’m actually powerful because I understand people. Now I want to become a therapist.” — Youth, Age 16

Increased self-esteem and positive identity formation

Improved communication, teamwork, and decision-making

Alignment between personal strengths and educational or career pathways

IN THEIR OWN WORDS…

Listen as Donna Lione in her role as Assistant Superintendent of Student Support of Temecula Valley Unified School District, shares about TEC’s impact in the lives of students and families.

Tammy Wilson, CEO of Oak Grove Center, recognizes Tiffany Baker for transforming the lives of foster youth through Character Development!

TEC’s

Social and Emotional Institute