Save allcove Palo Alto: We, the Youth of Palo Alto and North County, Need Our Mental Health Center to Stay Open

allcove which is a safe space for teens and young adults is at risk of closing and we need your voice.

Who should sign:

We invite 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.

Note: If you are an adult community member who would like to support allcove, please sign the separate petition at:  https://c.org/hyjgsqN6n2

Background: 

allcove is one of the only places in North Santa Clara County where young people ages 12–25 can walk in, talk to someone, get support, connect with peers, and feel safe without judgment. It’s youth-designed, low-barrier, and built around what we said we needed.

But right now, Santa Clara County is considering completely defunding allcove because of federal budget cuts that are forcing massive cuts to behavioral health services. This means allcove could close entirely — right when youth mental health needs are at an all-time high.

Our community has already experienced a third youth suicide cluster in 2025. Losing allcove now would take away a lifeline for teens and young adults who are stressed, overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to turn.

We deserve support. We deserve a place that listens. We deserve allcove.

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 eliminate allcove funding.
• Transition allcove’s operations to an experienced community provider (Alum Rock Counseling Center) who already runs youth mental health programs.
• Maintain $2M in County funding (50% cut)  instead of cutting 100%.
• Keep the center open while the community builds additional support.
• This preserves access to care while balancing the County’s financial pressures.

Why YOUTH voice matters:

Young people are the ones who use allcove and are the ones most affected by mental health challenges, but often have the least political power in decisions like this.

Your signature , and your stories, helps decision-makers like our County Board of Supervisors understand what allcove uniquely provides that schools, hospitals, and crisis lines cannot.

Please share your story!

If allcove has helped you or someone you know … If you’ve gone to a workshop, group, or peer support session …. If you believe youth should have welcoming mental health spaces …Please share your experience in the comments. You do not need to share anything private, and even a sentence makes a difference.

By signing this petition, you’re telling the County: Youth mental health matters. Please keep allcove open. We deserve support. We deserve care. We deserve allcove.