MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF LOS ANGELES

MHALA works to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities. Our goal is to reduce barriers to services, increase resilience and independent behavior, and improve our community.

MHALA achieves impact in the areas of mental health, healthcare, homelessness and housing, employment, wellness, and training for the behavioral health workforce, with special programs for Veterans and transition-age youth. MHALA is also a longstanding leader in public policy and advocacy.

MHALA program staff are trained in providing a variety of mental health services to our members. Our staff include licensed mental health clinicians from multiple disciplines, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners.

Case Management Services are provided to all members enrolled in MHALA programs. Personal care coordinators guide each member as they navigate through MHALA’s programs, services, and treatments. We meet our members where they are in their recovery process, using a whatever it takes approach. Our staff is fully committed to helping our members to achieve their goals by reducing barriers, identifying and meeting members’ needs, and facilitating their success.

Transition-Age Youth (TAY) Services help young adults ages 18 to 25, including those identifying as LGBTQ+, with mental health needs and severe emotional challenges to fully integrate into the community. MHALA uses a one-on-one approach, with a personal care coordinator working with each youth to create an action plan that addresses individual needs, including managing mental health needs and connecting with services, gaining employment, achieving educational goals, and maintaining secure housing.

Employment Services are provided to individuals with mental health needs by identifying options for individuals regardless of their barriers or where they are on the employment continuum. The comprehensive program provides job readiness skills, supported internships within the community, and supported employment within MHALA’s social enterprises, such as the Village Cookie Shoppe (villagecookieshoppe.com).

Veterans Services are provided to Veterans with mental health needs and their families by providing a coordinated effort to secure or retain housing, essential medical care, mental health counseling, and employment assistance. Our personal care coordinators work with Veterans to meet urgent needs that may cause homelessness and support them with long-term solutions such as job training and placement, healthcare, financial assistance and education, and other family needs.

Health and Wellness Services are provided by nursing personnel who address the needs of members who are co-diagnosed with mental health and chronic health conditions. Services include health screenings, health and nutrition education for self-management of chronic conditions, and other direct services and referrals. Nursing staff also operate within our outreach teams that provide intensive street services to homeless individuals.

Homeless Services include outreach, street medicine, day-use Drop-In Centers (for basic needs such as a hot shower, laundry, mail, food, etc.), and housing services. MHALA seeks to assist these individuals in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Our personal care coordinators are well-versed in the resources available in the community to provide linkages for additional service referrals.

Established in 1924, MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County. MHALA pioneered the recovery model, now widely used across the United States, which meets individuals where they are, focuses on strengths, respects client choice, and integrates care. Fundamental to the recovery model is the belief that people who have faced mental health challenges can and do recover.

MHALA offers a full continuum of services, and our members can enter that continuum at any point — whether they are receiving street outreach to residing in permanent housing. Our diverse array of programs allows us to systematically address the needs of people living with mental health needs by providing flexible services that can be tailored to meet any member's needs.

We provide services in 24 sites throughout Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, the Antelope Valley, and the Santa Clarita Valley.

MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County. Throughout our 2021-22 year, MHALA took unprecedented action to serve 15,563 members. We provided 1,418 youth with educational resources, served 20,070 meals, found housing for 1,380 members, and helped 548 members gain employment.

We continue to expand our services to enable more people who face mental health challenges to move forward on their journey of recovery, good health, and opportunity.