Supporting Youth Mental Health at allcove Beach Cities

Health care access

South Bay County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

There is a mental health crisis among youth: 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness start by age 14; 75% start by age 24; and 79% do not access care. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the youth mental health epidemic, and it continues to exist as youth grapple with the changes, pressures and expectations of transitioning into young adults, all while dealing with the reality and repercussions of today’s current political climate. This is why access to youth mental health care is essential. The stigma around mental health and the ability to find relatable providers in a timely manner hinder the ability to access care. Lack of insurance and immigration status also make youth reluctant to seek support. Care is usually linked to school and so youth who do not follow a traditional school path lack that consistent continuum of care. All youth deserve mental health support during this critical developmental time so that they have the tools to grow into productive, healthy young adults.

This grant will support allcove Beach Cities, an integrated youth mental health center for young people ages 12-25 with mild to moderate needs in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. While allcove has 6 service streams (mental health, physical health, substance use, peer support, family support, and supported education and employment), this grant is for the mental health service stream specifically. Under this service stream, youth can get the support, treatment and tools to take care of their mental health from professionals, covering topics such as grief, gender identity and body image through individual counseling, support groups or psychiatric medication assistance. Mental wellness workshops and teen Mental Health First Aid trainings are also offered. Youth have expressed their desire to receive mental health services in a welcoming, judgement-free space, away from school with providers who just get them. allcove is that place. The center focuses on prevention, screening and early intervention to build resilience, increase early help seeking and reduce stigma. Access to care is rapid, easy and affordable with free drop-in services available. Plus, care is youth-centered, holistic and integrated. Youth are peer supported and helped to design services, and interview and select service providers when the center first opened in Nov. 2022. allcove integrates the 6 service streams and links youth to external services to support the continuum of care, as needed.

allcove's vision is: Where every young person can connect, get support and find wellbeing.We hope to create a world where young people can get the support they need, when they need it, regardless of ability to pay, insurance or immigration status. We aim to increase access to mental health care and reduce the prevalence of mental health issues among our youth. In the one-year grant period, we hope to serve 350 young people in the mental health service stream.While allcove Beach Cities is in its pilot phase and the only center open in Los Angeles County and Southern California, there are plans to open three more potential sites in the County – San Gabriel Valley, Willowbrook and Santa Monica. By sustaining allcove Beach Cities and continuing to meet the mental health needs of young people in Service Planning Area 8, we would be able to create a blueprint for the other three sites to model and thereby create a coordinated local network of care in the County.