A new mental health and wellness center designed by and for young people officially opened in San Juan Capistrano, providing free, inclusive services to youth across South Orange County.
The Wellness & Prevention Center (WPC) led the effort to create allcove San Juan Capistrano, a youth-designed facility funded through a $2.7 million grant from CalOptima Health, a $2.5 million grant from California’s Commission for Behavioral Health, and a $1 million grant from the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. The UC Irvine School of Social Ecology partnered with WPC on operations and staffing.
The new center offers mental health, physical health, substance use, housing, education, and employment support for young people ages 12 to 25 — all at no cost and without the need for insurance. Services are delivered by licensed clinicians and peer support specialists, including young adults with lived experience, supervised by licensed staff.
“Several years ago, youth and families in the South Orange County area asked for our support in creating a safe space for young people,” said Susan Parmelee, LCSW, Executive Director of WPC. “When WPC was given the opportunity to bring allcove to the community, it was the perfect way to fulfill that request. I’m deeply grateful for a community that prioritizes the well-being of its young people and for the incredible partners who have joined us in realizing our shared vision: creating a culture where youth mental health is valued and where access to quality care is the norm.”
CalOptima Health played a major role in funding the center and shaping its community-based model. “CalOptima Health is proud to be part of this journey from the beginning grant to the grand opening,” said Carmen Katsarov, LPCC, CCM, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Integration at CalOptima Health. “It’s an example of when the whole community comes together — from a managed care plan to a community organization to UC Irvine — we can deliver better results for youth. We needed to co-create something outside the traditional system to provide mental health care and prevention in a different way.”
UC Irvine psychology professor Stephen Schueller, who supported allcove’s launch, said the approach is built around youth engagement. “If we want to address youth mental health, we need to create spaces they want to use and services in ways they want to engage with them,” he said. “There’s a huge need for mental health services for young people, and allcove offers those services right now.”
The center’s Youth Advisory Group (YAG) — made up of local high school and college students — played a central role in shaping the facility’s design, layout, and programming over the past three years. At the ribbon cutting, YAG member Chloe spoke about her own mental health challenges and recovery journey. “It offers an environment where teens and young adults can come to find support, be understood, and feel, most importantly, loved by their community,” she said.
The San Juan Capistrano location is the fourth allcove center in California, following a model developed at Stanford University’s Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing and inspired by Australia’s headspace program.
“Allcove centers integrate services so that a young person’s experience is seamless,” said Sarah Kremer, Ph.D., LPCC, ATR-BC, allcove implementation manager at Stanford. “Our data show that young people are seeking spaces for support, and allcove centers are meeting that need.”
According to data shared by Kremer from California’s three existing allcove centers, during the first six months of 2025:
- 97% of youth reported that their allcove visit helped them
- 39% of young people said they would not have sought help if not for allcove
- 22% indicated suicide or other high-risk safety concerns during initial screening
- 12% had used crisis or emergency mental or physical health services in the prior 30 days
- 43% showed severe anxiety on their first visit
- 64% showed a high risk of alcohol or substance misuse
“This center is a powerful example of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative in action, putting youth at the center of the solution and reimagining access to care,” said Krista Rocha of the California Department of Health Care Services. “DHCS is pleased to support allcove San Juan Capistrano as part of our broader vision to build a behavioral health system that prioritizes prevention, early intervention, and equitable access to mental health services, substance use disorder services, and wellness supports.”
