Youth
and Families
Masonic Center for Youth and Families
“It truly feels like a ‘village’ helping my son. Everyone has been so approachable and helpful.”
Since 2011, the Masonic Center for Youth and Families (MCYAF) has offered families throughout California a thoughtful, collaborative approach to youth psychological services. We evaluate and treat children and adolescents, ages 4 to 24, who struggle with emotional, learning, and behavioral difficulties.
When many families and kids first come to MCYAF, they feel lost. Through our approach, they find answers. We have the privilege of watching young people flourish as they begin to feel understood, supported, and empowered to overcome their challenges. We are able to work with every member of the family individually, and with the family as a whole, to make lasting changes.
Our staff are leaders in the field of youth psychology. We work as a team, combining expertise across therapeutic disciplines to best understand each child and family – from cognitive, personality, and neuropsychological testing to conversations with teachers, coaches, and mentors. We offer our services onsite at our San Francisco and Covina locations, and in partnership with outside professionals.
History of Children's Relief
Our fraternity’s commitment to children dates back more than a century, to the first Masonic Home for widows and orphans. Later, we expanded residential care to non-Masonic children, including those whose families could not care for them.
By the early 2000s, state services had expanded to fill the care gap for these youth, and a more urgent need became apparent: a new kind of center for youth psychological services, able to wrap around California families that would otherwise fall through the cracks. We transitioned out of residential care for children, and opened MCYAF in 2011.
Masonic Youth Orders
As a service of the Masons of California, MCYAF has a special commitment to supporting the Masonic youth orders of DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, and Rainbow for Girls.
We educate adult leaders on warning signs that a young member may need help. We find innovative ways to meet youth within their own comfort zones. We remind every Masonic youth and family: MCYAF is here to help, no matter where in California you live.
Community
MCYAF builds community relationships so that our services reach the youth and families who need them most.
In Covina, this includes a partnership with the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) to offer therapeutic services to children who have witnessed violence or are victims of physical or sexual abuse. We work closely with CAC to guide these children and their families past their trauma, to a place of healing and hope.
Accessibility
The charitable funding MCYAF receives from the Masons of California allows us to offer sliding scale payment options to clients of all income levels, ensuring that no family will be turned away due to a lack of resources. It is a rare thing in the field of child therapy, and a point of great pride within our team: We put the needs of each family first.
Client Stories
We are moved every day for by the trust that our clients put in us. We are proud to share Catherine’s story here.
To learn more about our approach, our professional team, and our commitment to serving young people, visit mcyaf.org.
