Community Corner
CHAC Celebrates New 'Miracle' Building
The Mountain View, Los Altos and Sunnyvale communities now can get mental health services in a newer, larger and more convenient facility.
More than a hundred people came together to celebrate the Community Health Awareness Council's new building—possible thousands if you count those in their cars driving by during rush hour.
Mountain View Mayor John Inks and city council members from Sunnyvale and Los Altos, joined State Senator Jerry Hill and County Supervisor Joe Simitian to congratulate CHAC Executive Director Monique Kane and the organization's board of directors for all of their hard work to members of the community. CHAC's new building at 590 W. El Camino Real will enhance the services they provide.
In 10 years, the number of CHAC clients has grown 535 percent from 1,844 in 2002 to 11,720 in 2012. To accommodate this increase, CHAC has hired more staff. They went from 74 to 122, an increase of 65 percent.
CHAC's new location has a training room for clinical interns, that is, professionals in the field of psychology and another conference room. The Outlet Project, an LGBTQ youth program, will now have two offices instead of one. The building has an underground parking lot, an elevator and handicap accessible entries.
The move from 711 Church St. was made possible through a multi-million dollar land deed swap between the mental health agency and the MPM Corporation, run by the Malek Family.
Established and newer employees at CHAC also rave about the spacious 7,330 square foot facility. The Associate Director of Clinical Services Radha Jagannathan, whose been at CHAC for 10 years said she "loves it."
"It helps our clients and our interns. It's good for the morale." Jagannathan said. "It's a good way to honor our clients."
According to her, the clients appreciate their new space too.
"They really love the old place because it felt cozy, but they love it here," she said.
Francisco Hernandez, a community worker who helps run some of the family programs for families with children younger than five, also is very fortunate. He's only been at CHAC for three weeks.
"It's good luck for me," he said.
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