On Oct. 1, the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) contract will officially move from the Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA). Veteran & Military Family Services (VMFS) will provide direct mental health services to vets and military families while continuing to connect them with services.
The contract, administered by Southern California Grantmakers, provides oversight to Community Based Organizations (CBO) operating VPAN offices in the field. Those CBOs are currently JVS (Supervisorial Districts 1 & 5), Veterans West (SD 2 & 4), and Goodwill SoCal (SD 3).
DMH staff currently operating as part of VPAN will be reorganized under the new VMFS which will be based on Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas (SPA) versus the SD model upon which VPAN operates.
“DMH and MVA are working closely together to ensure a successful transition as smoothly as possible,” said Dr. Rhonda Higgins, current VPAN Program Director, who will serve in the same capacity for VMFS.
While some staff will remain at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles, others will be relocated to various locations across the eight SPAs. Three locations have already been identified at “Old Edelman” in Culver City, the Behavioral Health Center at the MLK campus in Compton and a new location in Long Beach.
“We’ll continue to provide world-class mental health services using the peer-to-peer model for vets regardless of discharge status,” explained VPAN Program Managers Anh Tran and Nancy Pelayo, both of whom will also continue serving in that capacity for VMFS. “At the same time, we’re embracing the ARDI [Anti-Racism Diversity Inclusion] approach to remain culturally informed and responsive.”
VMFS will eventually transition to a Full Service Partnership, or FSP, providing intensive mental health services while taking a holistic approach to the other needs veterans and military families may have.
Submitted by William R. Wilson.
