Celebrating the groundbreaking of the permanent home of allcove Beach Cities on Saturday, May 16 are: Front row, left to right: Beach Cities Health District Board Members Michelle Bholat, M.D., Noel Chun, M.D., and Board President Jane Diehl, allcove Youth Advisory Group members Yash, Sofia, Chloe, Alina and Trevor (allcove policy is to identify young people by first name only). Back Row: Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, and BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly. (Photo courtesy of BCHD)
More than 2,000 young people have enrolled in services at the Redondo Beach center that provides a variety of health and wellness services for ages 12-25
Celebrating the groundbreaking of the permanent home of allcove Beach Cities on Saturday, May 16 are: Front row, left to right: Beach Cities Health District Board Members Michelle Bholat, M.D., Noel Chun, M.D., and Board President Jane Diehl, allcove Youth Advisory Group members Yash, Sofia, Chloe, Alina and Trevor (allcove policy is to identify young people by first name only). Back Row: Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, and BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly. (Photo courtesy of BCHD)
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (May 16, 2026) – allcove Beach Cities broke ground on a new, permanent facility for the youth center in Redondo Beach today, with young people joining elected officials and other VIPs to celebrate the future home of the innovative health facility.
Since its temporary center opened on Nov. 1, 2022, there have been more than 17,000 visits to allcove Beach Cities by young people from the South Bay, with more than 2,000 enrolling in free services ranging from mental health, physical health, substance use, peer & family support and education and employment for young people ages 12 to 25 with mild to moderate needs.
The new facility, funded in part by a $6.3 million grant from the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) through California’s Department of Health Care Services, will open in Spring 2027.
In March, with state operational dollars sunsetting in June 2026, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Janice Hahn to invest a total of $4.5 million – $1.5 million over three years – to sustain mental health services provided by allcove Beach Cities youth center. This action is in response to a growing youth mental health crisis and a commitment to expanding access to vital services in the County, and is keeping the doors open to serve young people.
“These upstream investments, and the young people who lead them, are worthy of the County’s full support,” Supervisor Mitchell told the crowd. “They represent one of the brightest spots in our County’s future.”
One of those young people, allcove Youth Advisor Sofia F. (allcove policy is to not give last names of participants), a senior at Mira Costa High School, opened the event by saying “our goal is to create a safe space for young people, and by young people. One that reduces stigma, increases connection and supports mental well-being and belonging.”
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi presents a Certificate of Recognition to members of the allcove Beach Cities Youth Advisory Group at the groundbreaking event for the new permanent home of allcove in Redondo Beach on May 16, 2026. (L to R: Youth Advisor Trevor H., Jane Diehl, Beach Cities Health District Board President, Muratsuchi, and Youth Advisors Chloe, Yash, Sofia and Alina. (allcove policy is to identify young people by first name only.) (Photo courtesy of Beach Cities Health District)
“As a parent, I’ve seen the rise of smartphones and social media, and articles, data and research about the impacts of excessive screen time on youth mental health,” State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (66th District) told the crowd. “When Beach Cities Health District approached me about this allcove program, we knew the United States Surgeon General declared a national public health crisis in dealing with youth mental health. So, this program is so critically important and so critically timely.”
The goal of allcove Beach Cities is to 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 Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and Beach Cities Health District.
“In 2022, Beach Cities Health District had a goal to build a safe and welcoming space for the young people of the South Bay,” said Dr. Steven Adelsheim, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford and director of the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing. “With more than 2,000 young people enrolled in services, allcove Beach Cities has established a high bar for future allcove centers to improve behavioral health options for young people throughout California.”
The groundbreaking was followed by “covefest,” a celebration of allcove Beach Cities that featured games and activities, music and art, in conjunction with Hermosa Beach-based Indivisible Arts.
“I am extremely proud of our team at allcove Beach Cities and what we’ve been able to accomplish, supporting the young people of our community and their overall well-being,” said Tom Bakaly, CEO of Beach Cities Health District (BCHD). “I want to thank these leaders who have provided such tremendous support for this center, including Supervisor Mitchell, Assemblymember Muratsuchi, Congressman Ted Lieu, our school and city partners across the South Bay, and so many others. I also must thank those who have made allcove Beach Cities so impactful in this community: our providers, partners, staff, and most importantly, the young people who are at the core of this center and the work we’re doing.”
