The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and UCLA are partnering to leverage the strengths of these two world-class public institutions to build a stronger and more resilient safety net. Through DMH funding and systems support, and UCLA’s academic expertise, this partnership aims to improve the wellbeing of LA County.

GOALS

Strengthen communities

  • Mitigate the impact of trauma and promote the resilience of individuals and communities

Reengineer systems

  • Engage and assist marginalized and underserved residents by improving broken, inequitable systems

Revitalize policy

  • Build equity into societal structures through policy

PROGRAMS

Train and implement

  • DMH + UCLA Prevention Center of Excellence develops the L.A. County workforce’s ability to address the impact of trauma, promoting individual and community empowerment. Visit wellbeing4la.org
  • UCLA Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence supports culturally responsive training for LA County’s workforce to serve LA County’s most-disadvantaged neighborhoods. Visit uclahealth.org/hnce
  • Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA’s public mental health graduate program provides a professional development pathway for clinicians skilled in public mental health.
  • DMH + UCLA Semel Institute position for National Clinician Scholars Program trains mental health clinicians to perform collaborative research with diverse communities to address health disparities.

Design and innovate

  • UCLA Depression Grand Challenge’s Screening and Treatment for Anxiety and Depression (STAND) Program utilizes technology-based delivery platforms to identify, prevent, and address mental health conditions and suicide risk among community college students in partnership with DMH. Visit grandchallenges.ucla.edu/depression
  • DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership promotes performance-based programming for LACDMH through implementation support. Works alongside key collaborators, including Third Sector Capital Partners and the Ballmer Group. Visit pmhp.ucla.edu
  • UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families addresses the challenges of reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on those facing inequity and disparities. Visit pritzkercenter.ucla.edu
  • UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ Wellbeing Line first responders help people navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, with specialized attention to moral distress. Visit luskin.ucla.edu

Study and advocate

  • California Policy Lab develops data-driven, upstream strategies for people experiencing homelessness. Visit capolicylab.org