Palo Alto University Graduation – the next generation of behavioral and mental health professionals
Empowering a vibrant Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park
The global mental health crisis is overwhelming, and solutions can often feel inaccessible. However, there are an abundance of organizations in our community working every day to deliver mental health solutions locally.
In recognition of World Mental Health Day, the Palo Alto Community Fund (PACF) would like to thank our grantees that strive to improve the lives of all those affected by mental health challenges and that deliver many of our “last-mile” services here in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park.
Thank you to Palo Alto University, Acknowledge Alliance, Adolescent Counseling Services, CASSY, Children’s Health Council (CHC), Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), EPACENTER, KARA, and PARTI (Positive Alternative Recreation Teambuilding Impact Program).
Palo Alto University: 2022 Dave Mitchell Impact Grant Recipient
Earlier this year, we awarded a Dave Mitchell Impact Grant of $75,000 to Palo Alto University (PAU), a local institution entirely dedicated to educating mental and behavioral health professionals. PAU addresses the pressing need for more psychologists and counselors to equitably meet the growing needs of our diverse local community. PAU trains the next generation of practitioners and provides barrier free services through sliding scale fees, telehealth (e-clinic), and specialty clinics serving the Latinx and LGBTQ communities. Approximately 75 percent of Palo Alto University undergraduate students require financial support.
“We are so grateful for this grant from the Palo Alto Community Fund,” Maureen O’Connor, President of Palo Alto University said. “We are using this funding in multiple ways, primarily to support our e-clinic, which is working with Peninsula area college readiness programs. The amount of money we have for new initiatives like this is very small, so any additional work in the community requires additional funds. PACF makes this critical work possible.”
Our Impact Grants provide larger, unsolicited general operating support to nonprofit organizations that deliver transformative solutions to critical issues in our community in a way that achieves both immediate impact and longer term systemic change.
PACF proudly supports
Acknowledge Alliance provides mental health counseling at Palo Alto and East Menlo Park elementary schools.
Adolescent Counseling Services empowers youth in our community to find their way, through social-emotional support and by building safe, accepting communities.
CASSY’s mission is to de-stigmatize mental health services and make supporting students’ social and emotional well-being the norm in our local schools.
Children’s Health Council (CHC) has provided comprehensive youth mental health services in our community for more than 65 years. In particular, the organization provides accessible mental health care for low income families through established community-based programs in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven and North Fair Oaks.
Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) is the only agency in San Mateo County solely dedicated to helping those affected by intimate partner abuse. From counseling, to emergency housing, to legal assistance, our services are designed to provide safety, support, and healing.
EPACENTER is a youth arts center in East Palo Alto that recently piloted an incredible trauma-informed therapeutic program with professional art therapists, serving children between ages 6 and 12.
Kara’s mission is to provide grief support for children, teens, families and adults.
PARTI (Positive Alternative Recreation Teambuilding Impact Program) promotes education around youth healthy lifestyles and healthy decision making. Every day PARTI works to transform the lives of youth who suffer from bullying, depression, violent lifestyles, unhealthy relationships, and unstable families.
Partnerships that Deliver Hope
Earlier this year, the Children’s Health Council (CHC), wrote an article featuring PACF about our community working together to address the very pressing problem of youth mental health.
Working together is key. At PACF we believe ALL our nonprofit partners contribute to relieving stress and sadness by providing programs that support families, uplift the most vulnerable, strive for education equity, and improve the lives of all of us in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Learn more about our 2022 grants and our 93 grantee organizations here.
Stay safe and well.