Ventura County wellness center will focus on important conversations around mental health and suicide prevention
VENTURA COUNTY — Nate’s Place – A Wellness and Recovery Center (Nate’s Place), a 501c3 nonprofit whose unique “recovery recipe” program is designed to support teens and young adults at risk of substance use and/or mental health disorders, is celebrating its second anniversary on Feb. 26, at 6 p.m., at its clubhouse located at 3840 W. Channel Islands Blvd Oxnard.
The keynote speaker for the event is Kevin Briggs, also known as the “Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge” — based on the book he authored on his experiences — for his role in suicide intervention while serving as a California Highway Patrol Officer. He is credited with dissuading more than 200 would-be-jumpers from following through on the act. Post retirement, Briggs has shifted his efforts to suicide prevention, which is the topic he’ll be addressing at the anniversary event.
Nate’s Place, co-founded by Heidi Allison, LCSW and Larry Rhoades, after the tragic passing of their 21-year-old son Nate from a car accident, has delivered some incredible wins for local Ventura County youth struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. Allison believes using its platform to tackle difficult topics, like suicide prevention, will contribute to a stronger Ventura County community.
“We have to approach mental health from many different angles,” said Allison, who also serves as the center’s program director. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but in creating a variety of accessible mental health supports and resources, we can really find the combination that works for the youth enrolled in our program. Opening up this important conversation not only for our youth clientele but the greater Ventura County community is critical in continuing to create awareness around the importance of advocating for resources dedicated to mental health. While our anniversary event will be a celebration of Nate’s life and the work we’ve accomplished in the past two years, it will also serve as an opportunity to highlight this important issue so many of our youth struggle with.”
The anniversary event, which is sponsored by co-host The Port of Hueneme, and is open to the public, has a lineup of speakers and activities planned. In addition to Briggs’ keynote address, the event will open with a Native American drumming performance by Nate’s close friend, Chance Kelejian, followed by an introduction from Allison. Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez will share a few words, followed by remarks from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Sheriff Shane Matthews and Dr. Khan, M.D., Addiction Medicine Fellowship Director at VCMC. A teen will also share their recovery story. Event attendees will enjoy a full Mexican dinner, live music by KNG.KAI — a childhood friend of Nate’s — and will be greeted by a mini therapy horse, named Hope, from Reins of H.O.P.E. There will be a tabling event for community partners and attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with coaches, tour the clubhouse and participate in other activities.
Nate’s Place — which was one of 14 finalists out of 500 applicants for the 2024 National Children and Youth Resilience Challenge launched by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — has supported 297 individuals through a combination of 1:1 peer support recovery coaching, access to recreational activities, and group counseling and education at its Oxnard center and in local schools in Ventura County, California. In a recent industry-standard self-report survey, 92% of participants reported improved overall mental health since attending and 94% reported improvement in reducing use of substances since attending.
The event is free to attend, but attendees must register in advance by visiting https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/t79pnab/lp/c671365d-dbb6-4264-afef-8c10a58031cb.
To learn more about Nate’s Place, visit https://natesplacewellnesscenter.org/.
About Nate’s Place – A Wellness and Recovery Center
Nate’s Place – A Wellness and Recovery Center (Nate’s Place), is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Ventura County, California, that provides accessible, no-cost services and transportation for youth and young adults experiencing substance use and/or mental health disorders. The wellness and recover center provides program participants with a combination of supportive services, known as “Nate’s Recovery Recipe,” inspired by the co-founder’s son, Nate Rhoades, who successfully won his battle with addiction as a teenager, and later passed away at the age of 21 after a tragic car accident. To learn more about Nate’s Place, visit https://natesplacewellnesscenter.org/