Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for Youth Mental Health

EIN 93-1943489 · Sn Luis Obisp, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health exists to expand access to quality evidence-based youth mental health support as quickly as possible.

Income
$495,057
Spending
$524,282
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
10
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$117,795, psychological associate

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $412,569 spent. CCAMH provides outpatient mental health services to children adolescents and young adults experiencing anxiety obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD depression and related conditions. Services include evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy CBT exposure and response prevention ERP acceptance and commitment therapy ACT and family-based interventions. Treatment is individualized and may include caregiver involvement to support skill generalization and reduce accommodation. The program aims to reduce symptom severity improve daily functioning and increase resilience. Services are delivered by licensed clinicians and supervised trainees in a clinical setting.
  2. $13,000 spent. Our program empowers teens to conduct peer-to-peer mental health research allowing them to address critical teen mental health issues. Teens design conduct and analyze research projects. The Teen Advisory Board shapes program activities to prioritize young peoples voices and needs.
  3. $50,000 spent. CCAMH offers free monthly Parent Drop-In sessions to provide accessible support and guidance to caregivers in the community. These one-hour sessions are held on the last Wednesday of each month and are facilitated by clinical psychologists and experienced mental health professionals specializing in child adolescent and young adult mental health including anxiety depression eating disorders suicidality and medication-related concerns. Parents have the opportunity to ask questions receive expert guidance and connect with other caregivers facing similar challenges. This program reduces barriers to care increases access to reliable mental health information and fosters community support. Our parent program also includes parent training and education to support caregivers of children and adolescents with mental health challenges. Services include structured coaching and psychoeducation on evidence-based approaches including strategies to reduce accommodation support exposure-based treatment and promote emotional regulation and independence. Parent sessions may be delivered individually or in groups and are designed to equip caregivers with practical tools to support their childs progress and improve family functioning. This program enhances treatment outcomes by actively involving caregivers in the therapeutic process.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2023.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Prestera Center for Mental Health (Huntington, WV), EIN 55-0492369. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.