Transition Age Youth

DMH Services for Transition Age Youth

The Transition Age Youth (TAY) Division seeks to provide an array of mental health and supportive services for Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (SED) and Severe and Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI) youth ages 16-25. The TAY Division has identified a number of priority TAY populations to receive these services; along with a specific emphasis on outreaching and engaging TAY who are currently unserved and underserved.
These priority populations include the following:

• TAY struggling with substance abuse disorders
• TAY who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness
• TAY aging out of the children's mental health, child welfare, or juvenile justice systems
• TAY leaving long-term institutional care
• TAY experiencing their first episode of major mental illness

TAY Programs

MHSA Community Services and Supports (CSS)

• Full-Service Partnerships (FSP)
• Field Capable Clinical Services (FCCS)
• Probation Camp Services 
• Drop-In Centers 
• Enhanced Emergency Shelters for TAY (EESP) (Motel Vouchers)
• Permanent Supportive Housing/Project-Based Operating Subsidies for Permanent Housing 
• Housing Specialist Services
• TAY System Navigators 

MHSA Prevention and Early Interventions (PEI)

• Partners in Suicide Prevention Program (PSP)
• Juvenile Justice Transition Aftercare Services (JJTAS)

Other

• Independent Living Programs (ILP) Housing

A Commitment to Recovery and Wellness

Recovery refers to the process in which people who are diagnosed with a mental illness are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. We believe that recovery is possible and we are committed to providing meaningful and appropriate support to individuals and families at every step along the pathway to recovery and wellness. We are committed to providing education about mental health issues and how they affect individuals and families; and teach and promote self-advocacy. We are also committed to encouraging individuals, families, and communities to share responsibility to support one another.

Transition-Age Youth (TAY) System of Care (SOC)
Sandra D. Thomas, LCSW, Deputy Director (213) 738-4644
Sthomas@dmh.lacounty.gov

Transition-Age Youth (TAY) Division
Terri Boykins, LCSW, District Chief (213) 738-2408
TBoykins@dmh.lacounty.gov

FSP and FCCS
Manuel Rosas, Jr., LCSW, Program Head (213) 351-7737
Mmrosas@dmh.lacounty.gov

For more information on our TAY Programs contact TAYDivision@dmh.lacounty.gov
 

TAY FSP Final Authorization Team:
Authorization Desk (213) 639-6730

TAY Enhanced Emergency Shelter Program
Gatekeeper (213) 738-6194

Permanent Supportive Housing Ambassador
Andrew Onaghise (213) 471-6529
Aonaghise@dmh.lacounty.gov

TAY Navigation Program 
Douglas Ware, MFT
(213) 351-6649
DWare@dmh.lacounty.gov

Sylvia Heins, LCSW
(213) 351-7736
Sheins@dmh.lacounty.gov

TAY MHSA PEI Evidence-Based Practices and Co-Occurring Disorders Unit
Shirley Flournoy, Ph.D., Program Manager (213) 738-6195
Sflournoy@dmh.lacounty.gov

Sermed Alkass, PsyD, Managing Psychologist (213) 738-4715
Salkass@dmh.lacounty.gov

TAY Drop-In Centers
Sylvia Alarcon (213) 639-6071
Salarcon@dmh.lacounty.gov

Juvenile Justice and Probation Camps/Halls Division
Karen Streich, Ph.D. - District Chief (213) 738-2895
Kstreich@dmh.lacounty.gov

Juvenile Justice Aftercare Services Division
Lori Willis, Ph.D. - Division Chief (213) 351-7733
Lwillis@dmh.lacounty.gov

• TAY Countywide Staff