State grant to fund building for allcove
by Garth Meyer
The California Department of Health last week awarded $6.3 million to allcove Beach Cities to build a permanent youth wellness building.
Governor Newsom announced in December $480 million would go to awards such as this, ultimately for 54 youth mental health projects statewide.
“All of us at (Beach Cities Health District) are extremely grateful for their commitment to deliver much-needed mental health services for young people,” said Tom Bakaly, chief executive officer for BCHD.
The District plans to build the new location for allcove at Beryl Street and Flagler Lane, as part of its Healthy Living Campus master plan. The 9,400 square-foot allcove building is slated to be the first to appear for the campus.
allCove Beach Cities (the “allcove” name is not capitalized) opened last November in a temporary location in the former South Bay Hospital.
More than 1,300 young people have visited the center and/or used its services, according to Dan Smith, BCHD director of communications.
The new grant puts the sum of state and federal money toward allcove Beach Cities at $9.3 million.
“This (latest) funding will be the first opportunity to build a ground-up allcove center to meet the needs of young people, in a space designed specifically for them,” said Steven Adelsheim, M.D., director, Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, who leads the effort to open allcove centers across California.
The program offers mental and physical health services, education and employment assistance, peer and family support and substance abuse prevention for young people ages 12-25. ER