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Gateway Mountain Center seeks to expand nature-based youth therapy; buys Donner-Summit lodge with state BHCIP grant
Summary
Gateway Mountain Center described its "Whole Hearts Mind Bodies" mentoring program for ages 624 and announced it purchased the Ilfield High Mountain Lodge on Donner Summit using a state Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program grant and philanthropic support.
Kelly Bathgate, interim executive director of Gateway Mountain Center, told Good Morning Truckee attendees that the organization's nature-based mentoring model pairs clinically supervised paraprofessionals with outdoor experiences to serve young people with moderate to severe mental-health needs.
"The idea is really not just expanding who can deliver these services but also where it can happen," Bathgate said, describing one-to-one mentoring that meets youth in nature rather than a clinic.
Gateway's Whole Hearts Mind Bodies program serves children and young adults ages 6 to 24 and partners with Tahoe Forest Hospital and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District for referrals. Bathgate said the program is certified to receive Medi-Cal referrals and reaches a high share of youth with Latino or other communities of color.
She said Gateway has served more than 30,000 young people across its programs since its founding in 2006, that 91% of clients remain engaged after six months and that participants show substantial reductions in emotional and relational stress; Bathgate cited a "45% reduction in emotional and relational stress" as a program outcome.
Bathgate announced that Gateway purchased the Ilfield High Mountain Lodge on Donner Summit, a 23-acre property that will host Sierra Experience programming and be renovated with state BHCIP (Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program) grant funding and private philanthropy.
"We're thrilled that there has been more attention called to this in the broader mental-health community," Bathgate said, adding that mentors guide participants through physically engaging activities and service projects that aim to improve relationships and resilience.
A staff member answered audience questions that Gateway uses paraprofessional mentors who are clinically supervised, that the program focuses on moderate-to-severe needs and that volunteers can support events and organizational tasks; some mentor roles are paid rather than volunteer positions.
Bathgate closed by saying the lodge will house expanded Sierra Experience activities and related treatment programming once construction is complete.
