About Us

Founded in 1973, Pacific Center for Human Growth is the oldest LGBTQIA+ center in the Bay Area, the third oldest in the nation, and operates the only sliding scale mental health clinic for LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC people and their families in Alameda County.

Our Mission

To enhance the mental health and overall well-being of the LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities by providing culturally responsive therapy, peer to peer support groups, community outreach services, and facilitated workshops.

To incorporate strong social justice and trauma-informed frameworks in our clinical training and peer-to-peer support programs that contribute to equitable mental health service delivery. To provide the most comprehensive care possible for all who seek our services.

Our Values

Our Services

Utilizing nearly 200 volunteers and 11 staff members. Pacific Center provides direct services for Alameda County and the greater Bay Area LGBTQIA+ communities. We currently serve over 3,000 people a year through our programs. To learn more about what we do, click any link below:

Accountability

We take responsibility for all aspects of our work, as well as the ways in which we interact with each other, our clients, and our volunteers. We know that accountability is the cornerstone of growth.

Transparency

We believe that open, honest communication in all aspects of our work fosters a culture of safety, trust, and commitment. We understand these elements lead to success.

Responsiveness

We strive to meet the needs of all members of our community with cultural humility, inclusivity, and representation. We take a learner’s stance in our work.

Accessibility

We are committed to making our mental health and wellness services available to clients with diverse physical and cognitive needs. We honor the uniqueness of each individual.

Collaboration

We work together to support our colleagues and the missions of other social service organizations. We value community, and respect all voices and perspectives.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vision

For Pacific Center, mental health and social justice are inextricably intertwined. We imagine a world in which everyone has access to culturally responsive care. Because we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion as core principles that guide all aspects of our work, we strive to address the deeply entrenched practices, cultural norms and decision making structures that perpetuate inequities within the mental health and social support systems. We know that unraveling the systemic oppression of marginalized groups requires an undaunting commitment to sustained self-reflection that leads to action. We have made mistakes in the past, and will continue to make mistakes on this journey. We strive to continually learn and to adapt in ways that center and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community at large; specifically QTBIPOC folx, at the intersections of race, age, class, religion, ethnicity, ability and diverse gender identities.