On Thursday, January 25, the L.A. County Mental Health Commission held a Town Hall at the Antelope Valley Fair and Event Center in Lancaster, allowing plenty of room for local community-based organizations, residents, clients, and families to attend and voice concerns to the 16-member commission.
Special guests included LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong and Anders Corey, Health Deputy for Fifth District County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Dr. Wong acknowledged progress in mental health service expansion in the Antelope Valley, such as the opening of the first mental health center for kids, and also announced the first Peer Resource Center in Antelope Valley, scheduled to open next summer.
Deputy Corey reinforced Supervisor Barger’s commitment to mental health services, reminding the audience of the new Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC), located at the existing High Desert Regional Center. The 9,900 square foot facility serves Antelope Valley residents experiencing a mental health crisis through rapid access to 24/7 stabilization services, assessment and evaluation, crisis intervention, medication support, and case management. The BHUCC includes a Crisis Walk-In Center (CWIC) where residents can be evaluated and receive medication on a short-term basis until they are connected to on-going psychiatric care, if needed. Mr. Corey also highlighted the upcoming adult residential treatment center. Residential treatment programs provide recovery-oriented, individualized plans that promote the goal of becoming self-sufficient and returning to the community.
