Connecting Our Community: News & Updates

LACDMH and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) recently launched a webpage dedicated to providing more information to residents, clinicians, law enforcement, and other stakeholders about Senate Bill 43, a new law that expands the definition of “gravely disabled” under California’s Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act.  

Considered the biggest change to California conservatorship law in more than 50 years, in addition to mental health disorders, the new definition of grave disability adds individuals with a severe substance use disorder or a co-occurring mental health disorder and severe substance use disorder who are unable to provide for their basic personal needs for food, clothing, shelter, and added considerations around personal safety or necessary medical care.    

To collaboratively launch Senate Bill 43, LACDMH and DPH partnered to enhance and increase public awareness and education of the upcoming changes through downloadable materials, social media posts, and community outreach presentations. Materials are available in several threshold languages, including English, Spanish, Korean, Armenian, Tagalog, and Traditional and Simplified Chinese.  

LACDMH and DPH are hosting community education events with Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), ADA support and ASL, Korean and Spanish translations. The sessions are hosted by LACDMH’s Service Area Leadership Teams (SALT) and Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC). The public is invited to learn more about Senate Bill 43 and its impacts by attending any of these community meetings listed on the Senate Bill 43 website.   

LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong joined First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis on October 8 at the Los Angeles General Medical Center for a groundbreaking ceremony. The site will host the first phase of the Century Housing development at the medical center’s Restorative Care Village. The project will bring 146 supportive and affordable homes to the site and will include shared community spaces, a 12-bed peer respite facility, and on-site supportive services.  

The larger Restorative Care Village at LA General Medical Center will feature new behavioral health facilities, including a mental health urgent care center, a residential withdrawal management unit, and a 128-bed mental health rehabilitation center. These efforts are a part of the County’s broader Restorative Care Village model, which integrates physical and behavioral health services in an integrated location. 

Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado also attended the event; Emilio Salas, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Development Authority, and more. 

LACDMH is continuing its Eaton Fire recovery efforts by offering free psychological first aid classes at Loma Alta Park (3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena, CA 91001). Residents have the option to walk in as sessions are available three times during the week on Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Thursdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 1:30 p.m., except on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day.   

The “Dealing with Disaster” program supports community members in managing psychologically after a disaster and covers mindfulness exercises, informational instruction, and discussion. Classes are open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Mental health is critical in the recovery from devastating and traumatic events. Individuals affected by a disaster may struggle with new or long-term mental health challenges. Psychological first aid can support recovery and promote resilience by helping people recognize signs of distress, discover and use tools to manage stress symptoms, and learn about additional wellbeing resources for themselves and their loved ones. 

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) has been busy with ribbon cuttings and grand openings throughout the County for housing and clinical projects. LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong joined First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn, and Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to celebrate the opening of SSG Kohler, Huntington Square and West Central Family Mental Health Clinic, respectively.   

SSG Kohler hosted its ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 1 at 615 Kohler St. on the east side of the Skid Row neighborhood. Dr. Wong joined Supervisor Solis at the 60-bed behavioral health housing program. SSG Kohler will accept individuals with a history of justice involvement within the past 12 months. The site has on-site housing navigation staff, an on-site mental health clinician, an on-site Licensed Vocational Nurse and access to the Department’s Full Service Partnership program. 

Also on October 1, LACDMH joined L.A. County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn, A Community of Friends, Huntington Park officials and others to celebrate the grand opening of Huntington Square, a 48-unit development that provides supportive housing to older adults and veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The building features furnished studio and 1-bedroom apartments along with communal spaces. Residents are also connected to a broad range of supportive services to enhance their wellbeing including counseling, case management, skills training and linkage to other resources.  

Supervisor Mitchell joined LACDMH and Dr. Wong for the ribbon cutting at the West Central Family Mental Health Clinic on September 27. The clinic temporarily left South Los Angeles, but has now been re-located to its permanent location at 3609 10th Ave. The clinic provides rehabilitative care, clinical services, targeted case management support and a full range of mental health services. 

Los Angeles County is home to vibrant indigenous Central American and Mexican communities, including the largest populations of Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Oaxacans. Residents speak at least 36 distinct languages, reflecting a rich tapestry of cultural heritage. For 25 years, the Mundo Maya Foundation, a dedicated local nonprofit, has worked tirelessly to preserve cultural knowledge, celebrate identity, and promote wellbeing among these communities.

Thanks to the ARISE Division’s Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) Latino Subcommittee projects, Mundo Maya has engaged over 400 individuals in sacred Mayan ceremonies and healing circles. The organization has surveyed and convened more than 200 cultural leaders and community members, producing impactful public service announcements that have reached over 85,000 Maya K’iche, Chinantec, Zapotec, and Spanish speakers.

The project addresses critical issues such as fear, separation, loss, immigration, suicide, addiction (including chemicals, electronic games, and smartphones), bullying, and domestic violence. An observer remarked, “Offering emotional support in language, showing genuine presence in a culturally respectful way, and creating a space for dignity made all the difference. This wasn’t just a project — it was a shared healing experience.”

Mundo Maya defines ‘Maya’ as “without pain.” For indigenous community members, listening and speaking are sacred acts that foster cultural identity, acceptance, and belonging.

Click here to learn more about Mundo Maya’s healing circles. To explore the organization’s mission of empowering Latino and indigenous immigrant communities through education and civic engagement, visit: mundomayafoundation.com. For information on LACDMH’s UsCCs, go to: dmh.lacounty.gov/about/mhsa/uscc.

On June 12, LACDMH was invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for 600 San Pedro, L.A.’s largest permanent supportive housing development to date. Led by Kevin Murray, President and CEO of the Weingart Center Association, many showed up to provide support, including L.A. City Mayor Karen Bass, L.A. County 1st District Supervisor Hilda Solis, and more. After the acknowledgements, there was a tour of the building to view the inside of the beautiful units. The brand-new, 17-story building features over 300 fully furnished units, including mobility-accessible and sensory-impairment units. Special thanks to the Weingart Team for making this possible and sharing this wonderful achievement with us. Referral agencies may submit applications to 600SanPedro@barkermgt.com or (714) 221-5618.

Over 80,000 Los Angeles County residents who are blind and visually impaired may lack access to the great outdoors; and miss experiencing the immense beauty of our local mountains, parks and coastal areas. A recently completed capacity-building project by LACDMH’s ARISE Division’s Access for All Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) set out to create safe opportunities and increase the blind and visually impaired community’s access to healthy recreation and mental wellness resources in Los Angeles County.

The highly successful capacity-building project, Expanding Mental Wellness Opportunities for People Who Are Blind and Low-Vision, filled an unmet need. The project’s awarded contractor, Hearts for Sight Foundation, is led and staffed by people with lived experience. This nonprofit organization’s mission is “to break down barriers to health and fitness that restrict the blind and visually impaired, so that they may pursue physical, mental, and emotional wellness.” Well-attended programs offer nutrition counseling, adaptive fitness, individual and group mental health services, and community engagement.

Many blind and visually impaired individuals experience social isolation and daily economic challenges, and depression and anxiety is common in this community. Hearts for Sight sought to reduce these barriers and increase opportunities for wellness. The organization provided transportation and support for nearly 50 participants to participate in a series of guided hikes, nature socials, picnic lunches, games, writing exercises, and discussions. Hearts for Sight staff rooted motivational discussions in Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, where the five levels were explored: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Participants reflected upon their behavior and prioritized areas for personal growth. Mental wellness discussions offered participants support and encouragement to make connections with each other and engage fully in the outdoors experiences together.

One participant shared the following powerful testimony:

I have been a Hearts for Sight participant for about four years, but mostly kept to myself, as I am quite introverted. Since joining the Hearts for Sight-LACDMH program, I have felt compelled to not only show up but to open up and share my perspectives and struggles. This has been not only therapeutic for me but energizing and refreshing since events are held in a peaceful, natural setting outdoors. As someone with much anxiety and other mental health issues, I feel at ease and welcomed at these events as staff and volunteers ensure our safety and comfort. The support and encouragement I receive from such events provides me the needed strength to seek a fuller, active lifestyle. I am truly grateful to Hearts for Sight and LACDMH for promoting a space to engage in discussions to promote a healthy mind despite our physical challenges.

This transformational project strengthened the capacity of Hearts for Sight to advance its mission. The organization is currently planning a series of activities focusing on the arts and mental health in the blind and visually impaired community. Visit heartsforsightfoundation.org. For more information on the Access for All UsCC, please visit: dmh.lacounty.gov/about/mhsa/uscc/access-for-all-uscc.

Submitted by ARISE Division.

In April 2023, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) was awarded $97.5 million from the California Department of Social Services to implement the Community Care Expansion (CCE) – Preservation program, with an additional $11.2 million in Mental Health Services Act funds secured as the required local match.

Established by Assembly Bill 172, the CCE program provides $805 million statewide to acquire, construct, and renovate licensed adult and senior care facilities serving low-income individuals, including those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Preservation program includes two components: Capital Projects (CP) for facility upgrades, and Operating Subsidy Payments (OSP) to support ongoing operations. DMH partnered with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) to administer the capital projects portion. On January 22, 2024, LACDA released a funding solicitation in partnership with DMH.

In August of 2024, Homes for Life Foundation (HFLF) was awarded CCE – CP funds for its Harvest House

Adult Residential Facility. Since opening on December 11, 1991, Harvest House has provided essential residential care for individuals living with mental illness in Service Area 7. With CCE funding, the facility underwent critical renovations including a new roof, energy-efficient windows, modern HVAC system, new flooring, and widened hallways and bathrooms to better accommodate residents with mobility challenges.

Thanks to this investment, Harvest House is not only upgraded for long-term sustainability, but continues to fulfill its mission: providing healing, hope, and a lasting home for life.

“The funding for these upgrades is God-sent,” said Carol Liess, Executive Director, HFLF. “With summer approaching, residents will now enjoy a cooler, more comfortable living environment, and the accessibility improvements mean residents with disabilities can navigate their home with greater ease and dignity.”

Maria Funk, Ph.D., LACDMH Deputy Director, Housing and Job Development, said, “These funds represent an investment in a shared future; one where residential care is not only available and accessible, but thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of our clients and rooted in our communities long into the future. DMH is thankful for our participating CCE facilities and our partnership with the Los Angeles County Development Authority, who has played an integral role in administrating the CCE – CP, ensuring that these renovations are completed quickly and with minimal disruption to residents.”

In April, Harvest House welcomed back residents, who were thrilled to see the new upgrades and partake in the decoration of their new living space.

CCE – Capital Projects: More Impact on the Way

• 24 facilities to be upgraded across L.A. County
  • 11 contracts executed
    • Two facility renovations complete
    • Nine facilities currently in construction
  • 13 pending contract execution
• 1,108 total beds to be preserved
• Hundreds of residents with SMI now have ongoing access to housing and care

For more details, please visit ccegrant.com.