Youth Development Services

The goal of GSCS’s Youth Development Services is to help young people acquire the life and academic skills necessary for personal success. Youth Development Services provides neighborhood youth, between the ages of 6-18, the opportunity to develop these skills through dynamic after school and summer enrichment programs.

Youth activities focus on four main areas:

• Strengthening educational achievement
• Promoting civic and community engagement
• Reducing risky behaviors
• Ensuring a successful transition to college and a career

A wide variety of activities and services are offered including academic tutoring and enrichment sessions, career exploration field trips, sports and recreational activities, PSAT/SAT prep courses, volunteer opportunities, and tours to college campuses. Decades of research have shown that keeping youth occupied with meaningful activities when they are not in school fosters greater well-being and likelihood of future success.

Additionally, each youth participant is matched with a case manger who monitors the child or adolescent’s family life, school work, and attendance, advocating on their behalf when needed.

In 2010, the after school and summer enrichment program served 1,520 low-income youth in both San Antonio and Pharr, Texas. For more information about our youth development program in Pharr, please click here.