Protect Youth Mental Health: Preserve Funding for allcove Palo Alto (Community Petition)

Our community’s youth cannot afford to lose a vital mental health access point.

Who should sign:

We ask parents, educators, caregivers, mental health professionals, and all residents in Palo Alto and North Santa Clara County who care about youth well-being to sign and urge the County to keep allcove open.

Note: If you are a youth ages 12-25, especially those who currently rely or have relied in the past on allcove, care about youth mental health, or want to support their peers to sign and share why keeping allcove open matters, please sign the YOUTH Petition at: https://c.org/6hq4VjB7cH

Background:
allcove Palo Alto is a nationally recognized youth mental health and wellness center designed for people ages 12–25. It offers walk-in counseling, peer support, LGBTQ+ programs, groups, case management, and a warm, stigma-free space where young people can get help early — before a crisis escalates.

In 2025, our community has faced the third youth suicide cluster in Palo Alto. Rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation among youth have never been higher. allcove plays a unique role in providing low-barrier, immediate access to care that schools and hospitals cannot replicate.

However, Santa Clara County is now being forced to make unprecedented cuts to behavioral health services due to federal Medicaid rule changes (“The Big Beautiful Bill”). Because of these external budget pressures, the County is considering eliminating all funding for allcove, which would force the center to close.

Closing allcove at this moment would leave thousands of young people and families without a crucial mental health access point.

What we’re asking the County to do:

Local nonprofits, Project Safety Net, youth advocates, mental health leaders, and local elected officials are all calling for a better plan:

• Do not fully defund allcove.
• Transition operations to Alum Rock Counseling Center, an experienced nonprofit mental health provider.
• Maintain $2M in County funding (50% cut) instead of cutting 100%.
• Preserve continuity of care and allow the community to strengthen long-term resources.
• This approach balances fiscal realities with the urgent mental health needs of our youth.

Why adult and community voices matter:

Adults, parents, educators, caregivers, community leaders see firsthand how deeply youth are struggling. Your advocacy demonstrates that our community believes in prevention, early intervention, and accessible services. Hundreds of individual voices show the Board of Supervisors that supporting youth mental health is a shared moral responsibility.

Please share your stories!

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, neighbor, or community member: 

• Has allcove helped your child or student?
• Do you believe youth need more early-intervention spaces, not fewer?
• Are you concerned about rising youth mental health crises?

Please leave a comment about why allcove matters to our community. Personal stories carry real weight with decision-makers.

By signing, you are urging the County:

Protect youth mental health. Keep allcove open. Our community is stronger and safer when young people have the support they need.