Kyle Hyland Foundation seeks partnership with Benicia Unified to expand teen mental-health services
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Summary
The Kyle Hyland Foundation described multi‑year state funding and proposed partnerships to bring counseling, peer mentoring and vocational supports into Benicia Unified schools, and asked the district to consider a memorandum of understanding and parental-consent exceptions for wellness-center work.
The Kyle Hyland Foundation presented a plan to partner with Benicia Unified to expand teen mental-health and wellness services and asked the board to consider a memorandum of understanding to begin operations in district wellness centers.
Barbara Gervasi, president and executive director of the Kyle Hyland Foundation, told the board the foundation received a $5,000,000 state allocation in the 2021–22 budget and that the City of Benicia serves as the foundation's fiscal agent. She said the foundation budgeted approximately $1.7 million for programs, $2.6 million for a new teen wellness facility and $680,000 for city consulting fees, and that the foundation had requested an extension to spend funds through August 2028.
Gervasi described current programming at the Highland Teen Center across the street from Benicia High School, including drop-in peer space, art and music rooms, educational workshops with partners such as Solano County Mental Health and free therapy for Benicia youth ages 12–19. "We offer free therapy on the weekends," she said, noting that the foundation also rents space in the high school's wellness center for after-school therapy.
The foundation proposed a multi-part partnership with the district: provide licensed therapists and peer mentors in the high-school and middle-school wellness centers; fund alcohol-and-other-drug counseling if needed; support an after-school club-supervision model at the middle school with peer mentors; and run a vocational and transitional-age-youth program during access periods at Benicia High. Gervasi said some programs could be covered under the state grant and requested flexibility on parental-consent rules for wellness-center services, noting that other outside groups have been permitted to work in school wellness centers without written parental opt-in.
Board members praised the foundation's work and asked staff to explore a potential agreement. Trustee comments included offers to visit the center and appreciation for the foundation's youth services. The superintendent and staff noted that any formal partnership would require a written memorandum of understanding and coordination on district policies and reporting metrics.
No formal action was taken; board members asked staff to return with options and next steps.
