"An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure" - Chinese proverb
	This simple proverb conveys the philosophy behind Centinela Youth Services' programs. Responding to the growing crime in Los Angeles, and to that inherent need to prevent conflict for the sake of the individuals involved, CYS aims to prevent disadvantaged youth from making choices that could place their lives at-risk. Our goal is to provide programs and services to at-risk youth and their families to ensure they have the best opportunity to overcome obstacles that threaten their futures. To stop the spread of violence in our communities, we are doing our part in offering effective programs that address conflict and violence in the home, the school, and the community. Our innovative program approach includes victim offender services, school mediation and conflict resolution programs, family counseling and referral services. These programs aim at helping disadvantaged youth avoid the juvenile justice system and become productive members of society. Centinela Youth Services, Inc. is a community based non-profit organization, serving the Centinela Valley, which includes Inglewood, Gardena, Hawthorne, Lawndale, and the adjacent unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Our Victim Offender Restitution Services (VORS) program services the entire Los Angeles County, and our STudents Able to Resolve Situations (STARS) and Families Able to Resolve Situations (FARS) service adjoining communities. From these core services come other programs, such as Bright Futures and Beyond the Bell, which also offer after school tutoring and extracurricular classes; and the Student Police Dialogue, which brings officers and students together to dialogue their points of view in order to gain mutual understanding. To maximize its scope and scale of service, CYS collaborates with over 30 local schools, police and probation departments, and nearly 100 other community agencies. Programs:   - VORS   - STARS   - FARS   - Bright Futures   - Student Police Dialogue