Connecting Our Community: News & Updates

Commentaries from the Edge: Mental Health on the Frontlines

Episode #9: The HOME Team

In Los Angeles, California, there exists a “City within a City” where its citizens live and die on the streets. The numbers are staggering. At the last approximate count, over 75,000 people are struggling to survive unhoused, and thousands are dying each year. In response to this humanitarian crisis, LACDMH launched a pioneering and innovative initiative known as street psychiatry — a program often referred to as a “radical solution.” This approach provides critical medical and therapeutic care directly on the streets, creating a kind of outdoor emergency room.

On this episode, we hear from Aubree Lovelace, Chief Administrator of the HOME (Homeless, Outreach, Mobile, Engagement) Team. The HOME Team comprises psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and peers who dedicate their efforts to saving lives as part of their daily work. In upcoming episodes, several HOME Team members will share their experiences confronting the most critical situations among those living on the streets. They work with individuals experiencing severe mental illness who are unable to meet their most basic needs.

Referrals to the HOME Team often come from other homeless outreach providers, law enforcement officers, family members, and community members. The program’s successes — such as helping individuals accept medications to stabilize their mental health — have led to its growth. Stabilization often marks the first step toward housing, reconnection with family, and reintegration into society.

The work of the HOME Team not only provides immediate relief but also reduces costly hospitalizations, clinic visits, and incarcerations. Expanding this dedicated team of mental health professionals is vital to addressing the crisis on the streets of Los Angeles.

Episode #10: HOME and Shayan Rab

Dr. Shayan Rab ventures where few psychiatrists have gone: into the streets where Los Angeles’ unhoused population fights to survive. He describes his work as “majestic,” a word that reflects the beauty and dignity he finds in saving lives and transforming systems to address this urgent humanitarian crisis. Dr. Rab began his journey in 2018, walking the streets and treating individuals on the brink of losing their capacity to survive due to severe mental illness.

At the program’s inception, Dr. Rab was the sole psychiatrist on the HOME Team, working alongside a multidisciplinary staff comprised of a nurse, social worker, medical caseworker, and peer. Today, thanks to the program’s remarkable success, the team has expanded to include 17 psychiatrists and over 200 staff members who cover Los Angeles County’s vast geographic area. As the HOME Medical Director, Dr. Rab not only performs his daily duties but also serves as a passionate advocate, demonstrating how communities can unite to solve what seems like an insurmountable problem.

In this episode, Dr. Rab shares his insights and approach to building trust with the unhoused population. His work embodies the LACDMH motto: “Hope, Recovery, and Wellbeing.” Through his dedication, he has pioneered a model of street psychiatry that serves as a beacon for Los Angeles, the nation, and the world.

Episode #11: HOME with Dr. Yelena Koldobskaya and Isidro Alvarez

We continue our series on Street Psychiatry, exploring the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)’s HOME Team program. In this episode, we hear from Yelena Koldobskaya, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director for the southern region of Los Angeles, and Isidro Alvarez, Medical Caseworker. Together, they are key to the program’s success, treating individuals as if in an open-air hospital to save lives.

They share their experience working with people who are homeless and in critical condition but refuse treatment. Dr. Koldobskaya and Isidro discuss their process of monitoring these individuals over time and attempting to establish a care partnership. When necessary, they initiate a Conservatorship, where a family member or guardian, if available, is given control over the person’s decisions to prevent them from dying on the streets. This extreme measure requires a court decision.

Dr. Koldobskaya and Isidro offer a firsthand account of their work, including the story of a woman living on a bus bench. When Dr. K’s medical expertise and Isidro’s experience with Conservatorship intersect, the result is a successful intervention — an example of the HOME Team’s impactful work. As many cultures say, “When you save one life, it’s as if you’ve saved an entire world.”

Episode #12: HOME with Elizabeth Cope

A few years ago, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) launched an innovative program to provide services in uncharted territory: the Street Psychiatry-HOME (Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement) Team. This program was groundbreaking because it introduced new techniques for helping people with severe mental illness living on the streets. A psychiatrist provided care directly in the community, and the team — comprising nurses, social workers, and peers — worked together to save lives.

This episode, the final installment in a four-part series, highlights the successes of the program, featuring Elizabeth Cope, Administrator and Co-Manager of the team, which includes 220 staff members across Los Angeles. Cope’s dedication mirrors that of other leaders who, like her, bring enthusiasm and positive outcomes to the homeless community.

The program’s model requires vision, funding, and willpower to address the growing crisis of homelessness in Los Angeles, where people are living in dire conditions under freeway overpasses, in tents, and in other vulnerable situations. LACDMH is committed to this approach, guided by the department’s motto: “Hope, Recovery, and Wellbeing.”

Click here to listen to Commentaries from the Edge on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Click here to read about episodes 1-2 and 3-8.

The 16th Annual Global Day of Unplugging will take placing beginning sundown of March 7 until the sundown of March 8. This daylong observance encourages people to go tech-free with the goal of building and sustaining healthier digital habits. Research have shown that excessive screen time can impact well-being due in multiple ways, including reducing exercise, interfering with sleep and limiting social interactions—all contributors to poorer physical and mental health. To raise awareness of this issue and to counter the “constantly online” trend, the first Day of Unplugging commenced in 2009 to prompt people to disconnect from technology and invest their time and energy with their loved ones and communities.

To help people dive into “offline activities, real-life conversations, in-person connections and meaningful moments”, Global Day of Unplugging has curated a collection of over 200 activity ideas to do as well as a list of “unplugged gatherings” taking place on March 7 and 8. For more information about this observance and additional tips for a better relationship with screens, devices and social media, visit https://www.globaldayofunplugging.org/.

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) staff have been on the ground from the very first morning of the wildfires on Jan. 8 providing mental health support and in the recovery efforts at the Disaster Recovery Centers, evacuation centers and repopulation centers in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Westwood and Malibu. 

County staff worked alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), State agencies, County departments, City departments and nonprofits to provide relief to people who lost anything and/or everything in the devastating fires. 

LACDMH had more than 250 clinicians, community health workers, clinical pharmacists and other staff provide immediate and long-term recovery. Due to how the fires spread, people had very little notice before evacuation, so they were often missing medications, clothing and personal items. Staff provided these essential items, immediate mental health support and long-term resources.  

At the disaster recovery centers, LACDMH provided counseling to people reliving some of the worst days of their lives. They also spoke with the media to share available information about the recovery centers, including the wide list of resources available. Through the teamwork of Federal, State, County and local resources, people could walk into a disaster recovery center and walk out with a temporary driver’s license, an expedited passport, a birth certificate, a college diploma, and much more.  

LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong and the rest of the Department express their deepest sympathy and support to all those impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles County. As we navigate through this challenging time together, it’s important to remember that recovery isn’t just about rebuilding physical spaces but also about healing emotionally. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is here to assist and provide support during this difficult time through our 24/7 Help Line at (800) 854-7771. Residents can also find mental health resources through dmh.lacounty.gov and the disaster mental health resources page.  

See more photos from our recovery efforts on Flickr.

CARE Court exemplifies the ongoing advancements in mental health services within Los Angeles County. Funded by the State of California, this program fosters systemic change through partnerships with government agencies and community organizations. Harold Turner, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban Los Angeles, shares insights into his organization’s pivotal role in supporting CARE Court participants.

Founded over 40 years ago, NAMI has grown into a nationwide network of 600 chapters dedicated to education and support for families affected by mental illness. In collaboration with CARE Court, NAMI Urban L.A. helps families navigate the legal and mental health systems to create effective recovery plans. Drawing from his personal experience as the father of a child with mental illness and his decades of advocacy, Turner brings invaluable expertise to this initiative. His contributions include serving on the State of California CARE Act Workgroup, the LACDMH Commission, and leading NAMI Urban L.A.

Turner and his team accompany families to court, providing guidance and advocacy to ensure recovery and empowerment for CARE Court participants. LACDMH values the collaboration with Mr. Turner and his organization working together to foster recovery for those living with mental illness.

To contact NAMI Urban L.A., visit namiurbanla.org, call (323) 294-7814, or write: 4305 Degnan Blvd., Suite 104, Los Angeles, CA 90008.

The Eastern European/Middle Eastern (EE/ME) Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCC) subcommittee was established under the Mental Health Services Act to improve mental health access and reduce disparities for the EE/ME community in Los Angeles County. The subcommittee collaborates with community partners and consumers to enhance the public mental health system’s capacity to provide culturally competent, recovery-oriented services and projects.

For Fiscal Year 2022–2023, the EE/ME Subcommittee voted to implement the Sharing Our Stories Book Project: Immigrant Journeys Towards Mental and Emotional Well-being for Russian and Farsi-speaking communities. LACDMH contracted Mastaneh Moghadam from Cross Cultural Expressions (CCE) to develop and produce two coffee table books — one for the Russian/Ukrainian community and one for the Farsi-speaking community. Each story was translated into English to reach a broader audience.

The books feature short stories from 15–20 Russian and Farsi-speaking immigrants, highlighting their mental health, emotional, and social challenges as immigrants in the U.S. Each book also includes editorials with educational information about mental health issues and available resources. Contributing writers participated in art therapy sessions to explore their feelings and create artwork for inclusion in the books.

The project aimed to foster dialogue about mental health, normalize the struggles faced by Russian and Farsi-speaking immigrants, and provide education and resources. Additionally, it sought to reduce stigma and promote mental health services in a culturally engaging way. Dr. Anna Yaralyan, EE/ME Subcommittee Liaison, wrote the Statement of Work (SOW) and supported the vendor throughout the project.

The project spanned approximately one year, encompassing story collection, translation, editing, publishing, and promotion. After publication, book signing events were held at the Beverly Hills Public Library for both communities.

The events were well attended, with positive feedback from community members who expressed gratitude for the project. Comments included:

• “This book made me realize I am not alone.”
• “I learned so much about myself and my community.”
• “The artwork is incredible; I can’t believe these contributors weren’t professional artists.”
• “This book is important for Russian and Ukrainian people — it helps heal wounds and brings us together.”
• “Where can I find art therapy services?”
• “I have grief and trauma from the war in Ukraine — how can I get help?”
• “The book showed me how much Iranians of all religions and backgrounds have in common.”

The Our Immigrant Stories series was highly regarded by both target communities. Attendees recommended publishing a second volume and securing additional funding to print more copies for wider distribution. The project vendor also suggested creating similar books for other immigrant communities in Los Angeles County.

Overall, the project was a success, empowering Russian and Farsi-speaking immigrants to share their stories and artwork, fostering community healing and learning on multiple levels. A total of 1,000 books were distributed free of charge, with digital copies available for ongoing access.

Links to the books:

Our Immigrant Stories – Iranian Diaspora

Our Immigrant Stories – Eastern European Diaspora

LACDMH has launched the Veteran and Military Family Services (VMFS) program to enhance mental health care for veterans and their families in Los Angeles County. Led by Dr. Rhonda Higgins, alongside Program Managers Anh Tran and Nancy Pelayo, VMFS builds on LACDMH’s veteran-focused legacy with a commitment to comprehensive, accessible support.

Why VMFS?
Veterans often face barriers when seeking mental health care due to cultural stigmas and systemic gaps. “Veterans engage better with peers who understand their unique experiences,” explains Dr. Higgins. VMFS’s peer-driven approach fosters trust, encouraging veterans to seek support for housing, employment, education, and trauma-related needs.

Key motivations for the program include:

• Cultural Challenges: Veterans often avoid discussing mental health due to perceptions of weakness.
• Unmet Needs: Studies reveal high levels of isolation, depression, and trauma among veterans.
• Improved Access: VMFS bridges gaps by offering a “mental health hug,” providing wraparound care that includes therapy, case management, and housing support.

What’s New?

• Expanded Reach: VMFS operates in all eight service planning areas (SPAs), increasing access in high-risk and underserved communities.
• In-House Mental Health Care: Veterans can now receive therapy, case management, and soon, psychiatric services, without external referrals.
• Streamlined Support Line: Veterans calling LACDMH’s helpline can now directly access mental health resources or benefits navigation with a single call.

Affordable, Accessible Care
VMFS primarily serves low-income veterans and their families, with most services covered by VA health care, Medicare, Medicaid, or Medi-Cal. For those without coverage, financial assistance or sliding-scale payment options are available.

Looking Ahead
VMFS is committed to meeting veterans where they are, providing field-based services and building new physical locations. “We go wherever the veteran is,” says Pelayo.

Our Mission
“Veterans served our country. It’s our turn to serve them,” affirms Pelayo.

For more information or to access services, contact LACDMH’s Veteran Support Line (1-800-854-7771) and select option *3.

Click here to read about episodes one and two.

Episodes Three and Four:

In the third episode of our podcast, Mental Health on the Frontlines, we visit another Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) Peer Resource Center (PRC) in south Los Angeles, located on the Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital (MLK) campus in South Los Angeles. On the ground floor of a welcoming building, the center offers a variety of mental health services designed to support the community.

Roslynn Adolphus, Supervising Community Health Worker, shares insights into the diverse range of activities and support to anyone who walks through the door—whether through art classes, parenting groups, and special attention for youth between 18-25. Located at the intersection of Watts and Compton, neighborhoods facing tough socio-economic challenges, the PRC’s staff, like Roslynn, are dedicated to meeting people wherever they are, providing hope and connection. The center serves as a model for strengthening communities through compassionate care in troubling times.

In the final episode of our special series on Peer Resource Centers at LACDMH, we meet Jaime Gomez, Supervising Community Health Worker, who relishes that his programming specializes in reaching out into neighborhoods on the Eastside. Rather than working out of a single building, Jaime’s team takes a mobile approach, using parks, libraries and schools to reach individuals, families, and seniors who might not seek help at traditional offices for mental health services. Jaime explains how their work brings mental health services to people, normalizing emotional challenges and showing that seeking support is part of the human experience. His team’s efforts help break the stigma around mental illness and open doors to healing. One of their signature initiatives, Coffee With A Side of Healing, blends casual conversation with professional support, creating a relaxed way for people to engage with mental health services.

Episodes Five and Six: Highlights CARE Court

Los Angeles continues to grapple with the challenge of addressing mental illness before it becomes severe. This issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has grown into a national crisis. In Los Angeles, it is not uncommon for individuals experiencing psychotic disorders to appear in court after breaking the law. In response, a groundbreaking program, CARE Court (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment), was launched in December 2023.

This innovative approach focuses on providing services rather than punishment to individuals in need. CARE Court offers eligible participants a voluntary program designed to surround them with comprehensive support. This effort involves collaboration between the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Health, Public Defenders/Independent Defense Counsel offices, and various community agencies.

In these episodes, Superior Court Judge Scott R. Herin and Judge Rene Gilbertson, the presiding judges of CARE Court, discuss the program’s goals to promote wellbeing and empowerment. They explain how individuals can qualify through a court petition and how recovery plans are tailored, navigated, and monitored. CARE Court, still in its early stages, holds promise for giving those with mental illness the opportunity to thrive within their communities.

Episode #7: Inspiring Change Through CARE Court

In our ongoing podcast series, Commentaries from the Edge, we explore CARE (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment) Court, a groundbreaking judicial initiative designed to foster healing and rehabilitation for individuals suffering from untreated mental illness. Far from a place of punishment, CARE Court represents a partnership for change, driven by LACDMH.

This episode features two dedicated professionals at the forefront of this transformative program: Dr. Nilsa Gallardo, Program Manager, and Felipe Andalon, Mental Health Case Worker. Together, they share inspiring stories of lives turned around through CARE Court’s innovative approach. Dr. Gallardo, the Administrator overseeing LACDMH’s involvement, and Andalon, who works tirelessly to build trust and hope with each client, exemplify the commitment and expertise that make CARE Court a powerful agent of change.

Episode #8: Celebrating Success and Collaboration

In the concluding episode of our series on CARE Court, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Church, Supervising Psychologist at LACDMH. Dr. Church shares compelling stories of individuals who have begun to rebuild their lives through CARE Court’s support. She explains how the program’s success hinges on partnerships with various government agencies and community organizations, including Public Health and the Public Defenders’ offices.

Dr. Church plays a vital role as a liaison between these collaborators and her team on the frontlines, ensuring individuals receive the care they need to enter a continuum of recovery and hope. She also outlines the process for filing a petition for someone with mental illness, emphasizing the importance of the Presiding Judge’s review as the first step in accessing CARE Court services.

Join us in celebrating the transformative impact of CARE Court and the stories of hope it inspires. Launched in Dec. 2023, CARE Court aims to provide coordinated services and new insights for those with serious psychotic disorders. For more information on CARE Court and how to petition for someone in need, visit LACourt.org/CARE.

Click here to listen to Commentaries from the Edge on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) celebrated the grand opening of two supportive housing complexes in Venice and Torrance. The Journey Apartments in Venice has 40 apartments while the PATH West Carson Villas Apartment Complex in Torrance has 111 units, including one-, two- and three-bedroom options.  

Dr. Curley L. Bonds, LACDMH’s Chief Medical Officer, spoke alongside L.A. County Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and others at the Dec. 4 event. The project was developed and managed by the Venice Community Housing Corporation and features a plaza and a courtyard for residents. 

The event’s highlight was Rebecca Rocha, a Journey Apartments tenant. Rocha spoke about her time being unhoused on the Westside, where she was embedded in a homeless community behind a local Whole Foods. She eventually found her way into a shelter, then into Journey Apartments. 

At the Dec. 13 event in Torrance, Theion Perkins, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., Senior Deputy Director of LACDMH’s Outpatient Care Services Division, spoke alongside L.A. County Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, L.A. County Assessor Jeff Prang and others. 

The four-story permanent supportive housing community developed by PATH Ventures serves low-income and special needs individuals and families. The nearly 1.5-acre community was built on the site of a vacant grocery store and auto repair shop and features a common room, wellness space and a second-floor outdoor area. It’s also located less than a mile from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. 

Top photo: ribbon cutting at the Journey Apartments in Venice; above: ribbon cutting at PATH Ventures in South Bay.

LACDMH and Hollywood 4WRD hosted a Hollywood 2.0 open house at the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood on Nov. 19 to update stakeholders and the public on the latest news from the five-year pilot project. The event featured remarks from LACDMH Chief Medical Officer Curley L. Bonds, M.D.; Hollywood 4WRD Executive Director Brittney Weissman; and more.

LACDMH and the program’s stakeholders celebrated the accomplishments of the 2.0 program, including the 1,608 clients served by the Hollywood Mental Health Cooperative and the 34 clients moved from interim to permanent supportive housing. Karla Bennett, a LACDMH Mental Health Program Manager II at the Hollywood Wellness Center, discussed the status of the community-based program through 2024 and shared what to look out for in the first half of 2025.

Next, DMH’s Hollywood Mental Health Clinic shared how it is supporting the new vision for Hollywood. The clinic invited a client of theirs to speak, Gabriela, who shared her story as a transgender woman. Speaking clinic staff included Dr. Rebecca Gitlin, Supervising Psychologist; Nvard Simonyan, Psychiatric Social Worker II; Vianney Vazquez, Mental Health Clinical Supervisor; Laura Grello, Mental Health Clinical Supervisor; and, Vanessa Linares, an Intermediate Typist Clerk.

The program wrapped up with Brian Pelsoh from IDEO and Stephanie Holliday from RAND. Pelsoh and IDEO are leading the public education campaign for Hollywood 2.0, and he shared the designs that will be posted around Hollywood, starting Jan. 6, 2025. Holliday shared how RAND is evaluating the implementation of the pilot program.