TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Californiaand#8217;s Mental Health Services Act funds innovative wellness services for counties in California. For the second year in a row, Sierra Agape Center has been awarded a grant from Placer Countyand#8217;s MHSA Innovative Funding Program which provides qualifying agencies with resources to offer services to promote wellness in their communities.

How is Sierra Agape Center using grant funding to benefit our communities?

and#8226; Sierra Agape Center is able to provide a Yoga for Teens program at both Truckee and North Tahoe High Schools as part of their regular gym curriculum. Sierra Agape is offering up to three classes per week at each school in addition to offering yoga to athletic teams and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Wellness Centers. More information about the benefits of offering yoga for teens is available on Sierra Agape Centerand#8217;s website at www.sierraagape.org.

and#8226; In July, Sierra Agape Center brought Noah Levine to North Lake Tahoe High School for an evening talk on the benefits of meditation in managing addiction and reducing the anxiety and depression associated with overwhelm.

and#8226; On Sept. 8-9, Noah Levine gave a two-day workshop on Refuge Recovery, a Buddhist informed way of recovery from addiction hosted by Sierra Agape Center and For Goodness Sake. For more information on Refuge Recovery and ongoing Refuge Recovery groups, please visit Sierra Agapeand#8217;s website at www.sierraagape.org or see the schedule at www.goodnesssake.org.

and#8226; Individual, couples and family therapy is available for residents of Placer County who cannot qualify for those services through other means such as MediCal or the county emergency health care funds.

and#8212; Kimball C. Pier, LMFT is the executive director of Sierra Agape Center