Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH)
Training
Effective dates: July 1, 2024
Training
LACDMH is committed to training and educating our workforce about the DLAP utilizing various internal platforms, which include the following:
- DMH all-staff Townhalls
- In-person extended management meetings with detailed PowerPoint presentations on new initiatives and changes pertaining to the LACDMH – DLAP
- In-services with managers, supervisors, and line staff
- Meetings with contracted/legal entity providers: Quality Improvement Council (QIC), and Quality Assurance Council (QAC)
- Hello DMH newsletter – An annual article will be published to provide updates on LACDMH DLAP
- DMH Policy and Procedures
- CBO Bulletins
Workforce Trainings and Training Plan
The Interpreter Training Program (ITP) is designed for bilingual staff currently performing or interested in performing interpreter services and monolingual English-speaking mental health providers. The use of linguistically and culturally competent interpreters is important to bridge the language and cultural gap in the delivery of services in public mental health.
This training program enhances the participants’ skill set by addressing the complex roles of interpreter services, reviewing interpreting models, identifying standards of practice, and problem-solving challenges that may arise when interpreting.
Additionally, LACDMH offers its bilingual certified workforce several training opportunities relevant to language interpretation skills and clinical terminology via the departmental Training Unit. Examples of training offerings include:
- Language Interpreter Training Series
- Introduction to Interpreting in Mental Health Settings
- Advanced Mental Health Interpreter Training
- Use of Interpreter Services in Mental Health Settings
- Language-specific clinical terminology:
- Increasing Armenian Mental Health Clinical Terminology
- Increasing Mandarin Mental Health Clinical Terminology
- Increasing Spanish Mental Health Clinical Terminology
During Calendar Year (CY) 2025, the LACDMH ARISE Division strategically rolled out a training plan for the workforce to become knowledgeable on how to access Language Assistance Services offered by the ARISE Division. The ARISE Division management delivered a series of trainings at key departmental venues, including all-staff townhall, Program Head and Supervisor Forum, Quality Improvement Councils, Legal Entity/Contracted Provider, and Analyst meetings.
As a next step, the ARISE Division plans on making this training available to the entire workforce via a pre-recorded/virtual version. This CY 2025 strategy will ensure that executive, provider site and administrative managers, supervisors, and front-line staff receive this training and have access to all procedures pertinent to language assistance services coordinated by the ARISE Division.
Furthermore, to enhance knowledge and sensitivity regarding the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and sign language accommodations available via the ARISE Division, the LACDMH Sign Language Specialists are developing a virtual training focusing on American Sign Language (ASL) services. The goal of this training is to promote accessible, respectful, and seamless communication with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing clients using HIPAA-compliant platforms.
Once ready for dissemination, this training will provide practical guidance for the workforce on how to effectively utilize ASL interpreters in virtual mental health settings. Included in the content will be technology requirements for ASL-facilitated appointments, room setup, communication etiquette with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, ASL-booking procedures via the ARISE Division, and the distinction between Video Relay Service (VRI) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRS) technologies. The training development is projected to be completed and delivered by December 2025 with the possibility of pre-recorded training video development afterward.