allcove Beach Cities Celebrates Opening with “covefest”

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (January 23, 2023) – Young people in the South Bay have a new place to go for support services and resources, as allcove Beach Cities celebrated its opening Saturday, Jan. 21 with “covefest,” featuring live music, informational booths, activities, a check presentation and tours of the new center in Redondo Beach.

Located at 514 N. Prospect Ave. in Redondo Beach, allcove Beach Cities offers mental and physical health resources, education and employment counseling, peer and family support, and substance use prevention programs. allcove Beach Cities will be a safe place for youth that reduces stigma, embraces mental wellness and increases community connection.

The center is the result of a collaboration between the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, the State of California’s Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) and Beach Cities Health District (BCHD).

Funding for the new center includes $2 million from MHSOAC and $1 million from Congress, part of last year’s $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package. The federal funding was championed by Congressman Ted Lieu (California’s 36th District), who presented a ceremonial check for $1 million to the allcove Beach Cities team at Saturday’s event.

“The creation of this youth wellness center addresses the urgent need to expand access to mental health services in our community,” Rep. Lieu said. “allcove is based on a successful model pioneered by the Stanford Center on Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing. It was an honor to have championed the Beach Cities Health District’s work in Congress and I’m continuously grateful for all they do to help ensure young people have the resources they need to lead a healthier and happier life.”

Several other elected officials were in attendance Saturday, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell (Second District), who presented a proclamation to the allcove Youth Advisory Group, a team of eight young people who have been actively involved in the development of the new center.

“I am thrilled for the free and accessible services allcove will provide for our youth,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “We know that not addressing mental health in our youth has consequences that impact their lives into adulthood. Providing them access to these services now gives them an opportunity to thrive as adults. By expanding these free services to youth, the Beach Cities Health District is exemplifying how resources should be shared with our neighbors to ensure all our communities thrive.”

A crowd estimated at 500 people attended covefest throughout the afternoon and enjoyed performances by local bands Concave, Hallo Haus, The Pres and The Vlasics. There were numerous booths with games and activities, and tours of the new center were led by members of allcove’s Youth Advisory Group.

“allcove Beach Cities has turned into something so much greater than I could have ever expected,” said John H. of the allcove Youth Advisory Group.* “I get chills seeing it all finally open and coming together, and we appreciate all the community support.”

“All of us at BCHD are extremely grateful to the many people, providers and organizations who have come together to make allcove Beach Cities a reality,” said Tom Bakaly, CEO of Beach Cities Health District. “This allcove center will serve a need we’ve identified in our community for mental health resources focused on young people in the South Bay, providing service and support in a way that has not been available before.”

The center is in a temporary location on the BCHD campus. allcove Beach Cities will be a permanent feature in phase one of BCHD’s Healthy Living Campus project, which includes a re-design of its current Prospect Avenue campus.

To learn more about allcove Beach Cities, visit allcove.org/centers/beach-cities/.

*allcove policy is to identify young people by first name, last initial.

Media Contact: Dan Smith, BCHD, dan.smith@bchd.org or 310-374-3426, ext. 8165