Mental Health
The Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) was recently awarded a Service Access and Equity Grant to address a growing need for mental health resources for persons served by ELARC. Under this grant, ELARC was able to create a new position for a Mental Health Specialist to research and develop new resources, provide consultations with individuals, and increase information or trainings to our community. In efforts to address ongoing concerns with service equity, one of the main focus areas of this grant will be to outreach and work with ELARC’s commonly underserved population. By connecting with local service providers and developing relationships with mental health stakeholders, ELARC hopes to increase awareness and reduce the negative stigma that is often associated with mental health, while making resources easier to access for those that we serve.
9-8-8: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988 is the free phone number for anyone experiencing emotional distress or any crisis related to mental health, including suicide and substance use. Calling 988 will connect you to trained mental health counselors, and if needed, in-person crisis assistance from mental health field intervention teams. The lifeline offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about someone else who may need crisis support. Simply dial 988, text to 988, or chat on the 988 website (988lifeline.org), any time of day or night to receive assistance.
Meet ELARC's Mental Health Specialist
Ivanna Ayala is the Mental Health Specialist at the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center. Her role is to support the expansion of mental health access and resources for persons served by the agency. She is in the Community Services Department and is available to consult with service coordinators, individuals, and their families about their mental health needs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ivanna at:
Ivanna Ayala
(626) 299- 4897
iayala@elarc.org
Families and individuals served by ELARC who are interested in a consultation with Ivanna should contact their service coordinator.
Upcoming Events
No Current Events
Previous Events
Department of Mental Health Workshop Series
The Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center hosted a workshop series presented by the Department of Mental Health on various topics. See the previous events listed below for more details and to access the PowerPoint presentations. Be on the lookout for similar events in 2024.
- August 9, 2023 - Navigating Systems from a Special Needs Perspective: Presented by Lisa Schoyer and Brigida Salinas (Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health). View the Navigating System presentation(PDF, 8MB).
- 9/26/23: Mental Health and Stigma: Changing the Story
- 10/03/23: Understanding Childhood Behaviors and Disorders
- 10/10/23: Awareness, Treatment and Recovery from Anxiety
- 10/17/23: Awareness, Treatment and Recovery from Depression
- 10/24/23: Family Violence Awareness, Prevention and Resilience
- 10/31/23: Child Abuse Prevention and Resilience
- 11/07/23: Bullying Prevention-Kindness, Acceptance, Inclusion
Research and Data Analysis
ELARC has partnered with Kinetic Flow, a third-party research agency, to assist with ongoing evaluation of activities under this grant. In partnership with Kinetic Flow, we have developed pre- and post-surveys for our service coordinators, families, and the community. Please take a moment to provide us with your important input by completing the following brief survey: bit.ly/ELARCAboutMH
Training & Research to Empower NeuroDiversity (TREND) Lab is a new lab at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) - Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. TREND is currently recruiting adolescents with autism (14-17 years old) to be part of a study that examines depression and other aspects of mental health (e.g., friendships, response to rewards). This study will take place over a one year period with a total of four visits. Participation is voluntary. To participate in their study, follow this link: redcapsurveys.med.usc.edu/surveys. For more details, view their Research and Data Analysis flyer in English(PDF, 204KB) or their Research and Data Analysis flyer in Spanish(PDF, 205KB).
Mental Health Resources for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) provides information to assist providers and families of individuals with a developmental disabilities and mental health needs. View their policies, relationship with regional centers, mental health strategies, and resources at the LACDMH website.
Access the LACDMH provider directory and filter by location, preferred language, type of program, and age group to see local agencies that are providing public mental health services near you. Visit their website at dmh.lacounty.gov/pd.
What is the Take Action Initiative
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Take Action movement promotes wellness and well-being while sharing the vast array of resources and services provided by the nation’s largest behavioral health department.
Visit their website at www.takeactionla.com.
View their events page to participate and join them at www.takeactionla.com/events.
Crisis Services
START: Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resource, Treatment
Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) launched its START Crisis Support Team in December 2022. This program supports individuals experiencing a crisis who have a history of a developmental disability and mental health concerns. The START team at Easterseals works closely with an individual’s physicians, mental health professionals, and occupational and speech therapists to coordinate a system of support to reduce crisis episodes and promote overall wellness. START also offers a crisis hotline for each individual served, available between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Currently, this service is only offered by referral from the East Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC)
CRP: Crisis Response Project
Crisis Response Project (CRP) is a program of Community Integrated Work Program, Inc. CRP offers a 24/7 mobile crisis response team that is available to all individuals served by ELARC. The mission of CRP is to provide crisis prevention, intervention, training, and follow-up services as support to community homes, day programs, and families. CRP works specifically to decrease police involvement and unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations.
Contact
Director
Marisa Phan, MBA
mphan@ciwp.org
310-927-7655
CRP East LA Team
crpela@ciwp.org
24/7 Crisis Hotline
626-508-1964
Exodus Recovery: Project Connect LA
Project Connect LA serves individuals ages 12 and up that have been identified by regional center staff to coordinate a system of support in mental health and forensic communities. Project Connect LA is an innovative program for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are currently involved or at a high risk to become involved in the criminal justice system.
LACDMH: Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams (PMRT) provides non-law enforcement-based mobile crisis response for clients experiencing a psychiatric emergency in the community. PMRT provides caring, deescalating and less traumatizing approaches to crisis intervention—and whenever possible avoids outcomes that involve hospitalization, incarceration, or additional injury. PMRTs also receive community calls that do not rise to the level of direct services; in these situations, staff provide information, referrals, and other kinds of alternative support.
To request/obtain Emergency Outreach and Triage Division (EOTD) services, including PMRT, please call the 24/7 Help Line at (800) 854-7771.
Resources
Feel free to view, download, and share our Mental Health Resource Directory(PDF, 1MB).
