The Westside ICYF Back on Track Collaborative partners with Third Baptist Church of San Francisco to provide integrated mental health support to program participants. Recognizing that emotional readiness is foundational to academic engagement, the Westside team facilitates mental health and wellness sessions prior to scheduled tutoring, helping youth arrive focused, regulated, and prepared to learn.
Group sessions incorporate social-emotional learning, emotional regulation and coping strategies, stress management, mindfulness practices, trauma-informed engagement, and mental health education — all designed to build resilience and support participants' overall well-being. For youth who may benefit from additional support, the program also provides individualized services, including one-on-one check-ins, brief supportive counseling, emotional regulation coaching, crisis stabilization, and referrals to community resources as needed.