Connecting Our Community: News & Updates

Under the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) initiative, California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), counties must consolidate their 24/7 helplines for mental health and substance use assistance. Effective July 9, 2024, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Public Health’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) have merged these functions into one call center at 510 S. Vermont Ave. This is part of an ongoing effort to integrate 11 administrative functions across substance use and mental health over the next few years.

Callers to the substance abuse line at (844) 804-7500 will be automatically redirected to the new line. For both mental health and substance use resources, callers can dial (800) 854-7771. The centralized call center offers language options for all threshold languages in Los Angeles County and has simplified the menu options to reach a live agent more efficiently.

The centralized call center offers language options for all threshold languages in Los Angeles County and has simplified the menu options to reach a live agent more efficiently. When calling, the following options will be:

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Beacon Landing, San Pedro’s newest supportive housing complex, hosted its grand opening on Thursday, July 18. Mental Health Program Manager IV Carrie Esparza attended the event and delivered inspiring remarks to the dozens of collaborators and residents who gathered in the courtyard.

The event’s highlight was Beacon Landing resident Katherine Hove, who spoke candidly about her experience surviving homelessness. She shared how a drug and alcohol addiction drove her to the streets. As her physical health and hygiene deteriorated, her mental health did as well. She spoke of how she frequently considered ending her life.

Despite these challenges, Hove has put them behind her and has spoken in-depth about how moving into Beacon Landing changed her life.

“I stand a little taller, I feel a little better,” Hove said. “I have to remind myself I have a kitchen to cook food in. I have a home to go into now…I thrive in building my shattered past into something beautiful — a life worth living.”

The modular apartments, built just across the main channel of the Port of Los Angeles, features 89 studios. LACDMH funded 43 units with more than $6 million by No Place Like Home dollars. Abode Communities developed and managed the development while LA Family Housing provides supportive services to lift people out of homelessness.

The event also included remarks from a representative out of L.A. County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Office; a representative from Assemblymember Mike Gipson’s Office; Ann Sewill, General Manager of the City of Los Angeles’ Housing Department; Tracie Mann, Chief of Programs for the Los Angeles County Development Authority; Tim Young, Special Programs Coordinator for the Housing Authority of the City of L.A.; Holly Benson, Abode Communities President & CEO; Amber Sheikh, Chief Impact Officer at Sheikh/Impact; Lara Regus, Senior Vice President of Development for Abode Communities; Rosalind Ross, Vice President of Community Development Banking for Chase; Reagan Maechling, Vice President of Acquisitions for Housing Credit Investments; and, Kimberly Roberts, Chief Program Officer for LA Family Housing.

On Thursday, May 16^th, LACDMH joined Friends of the Children – Los Angeles (FOTC – LA) to celebrate the launch of a new location in Long Beach, expanding the mentorship program’s reach in the Long Beach and South County community. FOTC is a national nonprofit organization that selects and invites youth with unique talents, interests, and dreams who face multiple systemic obstacles to be paired with a paid, professional mentor called a Friend. FOTC hires and trains Friends to support youth from as early as age four through high school, for 12+ years, no matter what.

FOTC-LA is a unique program that provides mentoring to youth facing significant challenges, particularly those at risk of entering the foster care system. The program incorporates a 2Gen approach, which includes supporting both the youth and their parents/caregivers. FOTC-LA is devoted to “impacting generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors.”

In partnership with LACDMH and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors (led by Second District County Supervisor Mitchell), FOTC-LA is expanding its services throughout L.A. County. Over the next three years, the program will extend to each service area to ensure that youth and families receive the necessary supportive services.

LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong joined Emilio Salas, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Development Authority; Catherine Landers, Housing and Homeless Deputy for Third District County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath; Fernando Morales, Deputy Chief of Staff for Los Angeles Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky; and EAH Housing leadership for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the Pointe on La Brea apartments in Hollywood on May 6.

The event took place on the apartment building’s rooftop overlooking much of the surrounding La Brea Avenue community, including a view of the Hollywood sign. The celebration featured live music from a guitarist and hors d’oeuvres. Dr. Wong spoke about the importance of community in providing housing to those in need. After the speakers finished, the event moved to the ground-floor courtyard for the ribbon-cutting.

The Pointe on La Brea has 50 affordable housing units, including 24 funded by $5.2 million in No Place Like Home dollars and four units designated under the County’s Mental Health Housing Program. The complex features a courtyard, a community room, a roof deck, on-site laundry, and case management services on-site.

Alexandria Britton (Ali) has experienced behavioral health issues all her life. She began therapy at age four, and although initially diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder and ADHD, her symptoms and diagnoses increased with age to include depression; audio, visual and tactile hallucinations; and personality disorders.

Throughout her childhood, she was bullied, hyperactive, and unable to follow directions. She never understood why she behaved the way she did, so how could others? She never felt “normal” or accepted or had any friends. Her mother worked as a flight attendant, and often left her care to an alcoholic grandmother who ignored her, exacerbating her condition.

Her first hospitalization came at age 12 in UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric unit, where she spent a year without improvement. She was bullied on the unit and fought back; staff gave her consequences, including placing her in isolation, at times that meant spending 24 hours naked in a frigid empty room. She got her period while on the unit and didn’t know what was happening. She expressed that she might like women and from that point on was accompanied solely by males — even while taking a shower and speaking with doctors. After being discharge at UCLA, she attended public high school but was too hyperactive, got into fights, and cut herself, so was again hospitalized at Pine Grove from ages 15 to 16. She never made friends, was bullied and violent, and felt like nobody listened.

Abuse and feeling misunderstood in treatment facilities deeply impacted Ali Britton. She felt dehumanized, isolated, and like her existence was “not meant to be.” The lack of understanding and support from staff left her feeling defeated. Being restrained and subjected to physical and verbal abuse caused further trauma. While in treatment, Ali felt bad for her own actions—like things were her fault, even though she recognized the staff provoked her at times. The negative experiences seemed to undermine Ali’s treatment and recovery process as a teenager.

Ali finally “arrived” after attending school at The Help Group, where she found support and connection during her teens. She was even voted most popular and student council president. She graduated high school and tried community college but got off track and began drinking and doing drugs. Her best friend took their own life at 21, and Ali thought about doing the same.

In 1994, she sought treatment at West Valley Mental Health Center (WVMHC), where it took four years to get the right mix of psychotropic meds. “There are side effects nobody prepares you for — like drooling on Clozaril or unexpected bowel movements on lithium.” Ali was treated for 20 years with Dr. John Steven Hollenberg at WVMHC, until he retired in 2023. But it was when LaTina Jackson asked her to be a volunteer in 2003 that she found her calling: helping others avoid the suffering she went through. She started running groups, facilitated the warm line, and worked with SB82 and the HOME team (2018).

“I want to connect with people in a way that’s humanizing for them,” she said.

Today, Ali is 29 years clean, stable on her meds and works as a Community Health Worker, Certified Peer Specialist, Housing Specialist, and admin support person for DMH’s Prevent Homelessness Promote Health (PH²) program. She loves what she does. Ali was even asked by DMH Director Lisa H. Wong to throw out the first pitch at the Dodgers opener in 2023.

Ali offered her perspective on the importance of building trust and being human when working with those living on the streets with mental health issues.

“What our team does is magical,” she said. “I want people to feel like they’re not alone. Giving back is my passion, and that’s all I want to do.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) officially kicked-off its 2024 Take Action campaign at St. Anne’s Conference and Event Center near Downtown Los Angeles on April 4. The 2024 Take Action L.A. County campaign during the month of May, which is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, features 70 local, community-based organizations that will host more than 180 grant-funded events made possible through assistance from the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA).

The kick-off featured leadership from LACDMH, including Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong; Theion Perkins, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., Sr. Deputy Director of Outpatient Care Services Division; leadership from the Department’s Service Areas; and CalMHSA. Information was shared about the Department’s nine events, including one in each Service Area and a closing Countywide Take Action L.A. County event on Saturday, June 1 at the Santa Monica Pier.

This year’s community events include free yoga and meditation, art and music, block parties, a 5K run/walk, the Healing Bus, and more. All events will focus on decreasing stigma and discrimination, increasing help-seeking behaviors, and awareness of and access to mental health services and resources. For a complete list of all Take Action L.A. County events, visit TakeActionLA.com/events.

On Saturday, April 13, LACDMH partnered with the Armenian community to host a significant event addressing intergenerational trauma stemming from the 1915 genocide, which tragically ended the lives of 1.5 million Armenians. The gathering included notable therapists, dignitaries, and community figures who shared strategies for coping and healing for future generations affected by historical violence against Armenians and Armenia.

Mariam Nahapetyan, LACDMH Mental Health Service Coordinator II, gracefully facilitated the day’s proceedings. The event kicked off with a keynote address by Talin Khechoomian, L.C.S.W., who has experience working with soldiers in Armenia after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Ms. Khechoomian provided insights into assisting traumatized soldiers and their families, who may find it difficult to discuss their traumatic experiences.

The event also featured speeches from California Senator Anthony Portantino and Jorge Partida Del Toro, Psy.D., from LACDMH, who contextualized the genocide amid contemporary global violence.

Participants enjoyed a traditional lunch and performances by young dancers from the Ararat Dance Studio. The musical ambiance was enriched by the talented pianist Robert Ghazaryan, who performed classical pieces.

The day concluded with a discussion on recovery and happiness lead by moderator Lucine Babayants, LMFT, Psy.D., and panelists Rehana Peiris, MFT, Psy.D.; Lilit Tadevosyan, high-school youth-group leader; and Vosgan Mekhitarian, ordained priest.

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day or Armenian Genocide Memorial Day is a public holiday in Armenia and is observed by the Armenian diaspora on April 24.

Nearly 50 people crowded into the Palmdale office of the Antelope Valley Child and Adolescent Program on April 1 to celebrate the grand opening of the County’s newest mental health clinic. The event, which premiered the County’s first children’s mental health program in the Antelope Valley, included a tour of the facilities and remarks from Theion Perkins, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., Sr. Deputy Director for Outpatient Care Services; Anders Corey, Health Deputy for Fifth District County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; James Coomes, L.C.S.W., Chief of Service Area 1; and Dr. Makesha Jones-Chambers, Mental Health Program Manager II.

Due to the rapid growth of the region’s population, there has been an increasing need for mental health services for individuals from birth to age 21. This new program will provide them and their families with client-centered and trauma-informed mental health services. The program offers individual, group, and family therapy; crisis evaluation and intervention; case management and community linkage; medication evaluation and support; and psychological testing.

Once fully staffed, the program will include 30 trained mental health providers, including marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists. The program also has medical case workers and community health workers for additional support, community outreach, and service linkage.

The Los Angeles Clippers and LACDMH celebrated Mental Health Awareness Night on April 10 at the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles. To recognize the importance of mental health, the Clippers passed out stress balls in the shape of a basketball and featured LACDMH branding and information throughout the arena. LACDMH branding was also featured on the Peacock Place screens in L.A. Live, overlooking departmental staff who passed out swag to patrons outside the arena.

Although the Clippers ultimately fell to a late flurry of points by the Phoenix Suns, the LACDMH team still enjoyed spreading the importance of mental health and well-being with other Clippers fans. The partnership with the Clippers has allowed LACDMH to reach new audiences in 2024, including meeting with students at the Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Middle Academy Charter School in February and teenagers and young adults from the Brotherhood Crusade Youth Source Center in March.

On Wednesday, February 7, the LACDMH kicked off a 12-week partnership to promote mental health. Subject matter experts Sandra Chang, Ph.D., and Rebeca Hurtado, LCSW, MPA, are being featured on Univision’s Spanish-language morning show, “Despierta Los Ángeles,” with host Sanelly Quintero.

The morning show segments with Univision 34 will run into July and cover a variety of topics, including families, community, and LGBTQ. Additionally, two-minute radio segments on KLVE (a Univision property) will air concurrently, and 30-second vignettes will be aired on Univision’s many social media platforms and website properties.