Centinela Youth Services, Inc. (CYS) is a 501c3 non-profit community-based organization established in 1975 by the Cities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Inglewood, Gardena, and the County of Los Angeles. Since 1992 CYS has become a leading agency in providing a variety of mediation and conflict resolution services to some of LA County's most vulnerable youth.

CYS utilizes an effective system of services and supports to teach youth to resolve conflicts without aggression at home, school and in their community in order to reduce the number of youth attached to the juvenile justice system.

CYS has trained over 8,000 student and 1,000 adult volunteer mediators; completed more than 2,000 mediations between youth offenders and their victims; and restored communication and respect between nearly 3,000 youth and their parents. The impact on vulnerable youth can be measured in lives changed and lives saved.

CYS receives referrals from long-standing community partners that include Los Angeles County Probation, four local law enforcement agencies, and 35 K-12 schools in five school districts. Program referrals also come from community partners such as churches, social service agencies and numerous self-referrals. CYS' caring and professional staff has grown from three employees to fourteen trained and ethnically diverse employees and over 100 volunteer mediators and interns.
---------------------------------
NEWS FLASH--

The Wave Newspaper on Million Dollar Grant Award

EVERYCHILD FOUNDATION AWARDS CENTINELA YOUTH SERVICES, INC. $1 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CENTER

CYS RECEIVES $350,000 FROM CORRECTIONS STANDARDS AUTHORITY FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CENTER PROJECT

CYS IS SEEKING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR click here