Wellness & Prevention Foundation
OUR STORY
The Wellness and Prevention Center provides comprehensive support for youth aged 12-25 through clinical mental health services, prevention education, and an integrated care center - allcove San Juan Capistrano. Clinical mental health services (mild to moderate symptoms) are offered at schools and community locations, with a focus on anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders. WPC prevention programs include a Drug Free Communities Coalition, which has contributed to a significant decrease in substance use among youth in San Clemente CA. The organization also manages mental health training initiatives and participates in suicide prevention campaigns. Our model integrates community prevention with clinical care, emphasizing proactive wellness and holistic support for youth, guided by these principles:
Meeting youth and community members where they are
Investing our time and funds into youth, ensuring their wellbeing so they can contribute to the community.
Empowering youth to help each other, creating tomorrow’s leaders
Evaluating our impact to ensure we are serving all community members, especially the underserved and those experiencing racism and discrimination
Listening to the community to see what needs they have for support
Mission Statement
To increase access to mental health prevention and early intervention for south Orange County youth.
Background Statement
The Wellness & Prevention Foundation was formed by parents, community leaders, educators, and health professionals who recognized that substance abuse and untreated mental illness is taking an unnecessary toll on our families and our community. The success of Wellness & Prevention Foundation is made possible through a unique collaboration between the Capistrano Unified School District, and other community sectors. The Wellness & Prevention Foundation provides funding for prevention, mental health services and community engagement to help youth lead healthy productive lives.
Impact Statement
-Opened allcove San Juan Capistrano part of a network of innovative integrated care centers across California that serve all youth ages 12-25 regardless of income level or insurance.
-Last fiscal year, we provided 3,200+ mental health sessions to 400 young people across south Orange County. Includes school-based services and allcove San Juan Capistrano.
-On average, 150 young people per week receive mental health support from WPC staff.
-For every $1 spent on prevention our community saves $10 in public health and safety costs.
-Our monthly eNews goes to over 4,000 families in south Orange County providing prevention education to parents.
-Over the past 2 years, over 1,200 adults and 300 youth have been trained in Mental Health First Aid.
Needs Statement
Before year end, we hope to increase our monthly recurring donors from 10 to 50, helping to ensure a monthly revenue stream that supports our no cost access to care.
Geographic Areas Served
San Clemente, California San Juan Capistrano, California, Aliso Viejo, California, Laguna Niguel, California, Dana Point, California, Mission Viejo, Califonia, Ladera Ranch, California
Top Three Populations Served
- Households with limited English proficiency
- Latinos
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)
Statement from the CEO/Executive Director
When we founded the Wellness & Prevention Center in 2014, I could not even have imagined we would be where we are today. We started by supporting young people on one high school campus and have grown as a trusted provider across the Capistrano Unified School District and opened an innovative integrated care center - allcove San Juan Capistrano. We are changing how youth receive care, making services safe and accessible, and combatting the youth mental health crisis. We have done this with the support of the community and major donors- please join us and support our work.
Statement from the Board Chair/President
As we enter our second decade, I am filled with gratitude. We have grown from humble beginnings in a peeling portable classroom on a high school campus to our own one-year-old, award-winning allcove San Juan Capistrano and Wellness & Prevention Center building. We could not have reached this milestone without each of you.
CONTACT
Wellness & Prevention Foundation
700 AVENIDA PICO
SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673
Susan Parmelee
Phone: 949-680-0516