Outlet's LGBTQQ Services to Expand

Written by Claudia Cruz

More adolescents who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ) now have access to more services in the Peninsula and South Bay.

Palo Alto-based Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) has acquired a program of Mountain View-based Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), Outlet effective July 1st.

Outlet empowers LGBTQQ youth and builds safe and accepting communities through support, education and advocacy throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

"I can't overstate how truly powerful this integration with ACS is for Outlet," Executive Director Anthony Ross said. "I only see possibility and opportunity working with the wonderful board and staff of ACS—and continuing our partnership with CHAC. Outlet's dream of reaching and supporting even more youth on the Peninsula is in full stride!"

According to Ross, Outlet and ACS will make a great team because ACS
offers critical interventions and mental health services to more than 7,000 individuals annually to San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties through its On-Campus Counseling Program, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program and After-School Counseling Program. Outlet now joins this group of programs and expands its opportunities to serve more.

"With the addition of the Outlet Program to the ACS family, our organization is now able to welcome all teens in need of support, respite, and guidance,” said Philippe Rey, Psy.D., ACS Executive Director. 

Founded in 1997, Outlet has been a CHAC program since 2003. In 2012, a transition committee began to investigate how Outlet could expand its services to realize its mission to serve more LGBTQQ youth. After some review, the ACS Board of Directors voted on June 19, 2013 to approve incorporating Outlet as a program of ACS.

Outlet will continue to operate from CHAC and provide the support groups and other services it currently offers. Outlet’s unique Latino group, De Ambiente, will continue and with ACS’ presence in San Mateo County, Outlet can expand its Latino outreach where there is high need and demand. 

"We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with Outlet in a different capacity while strengthening ties with ACS,” said Monique Kane, CHAC Executive Director.

Outlet is the only program in the state of California that provides bilingual services for LGBTQQ youth. ACS will be strategically integrating Outlet into its current programming over the next year.