LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National
Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los Angeles County (NAMI GLAC) has commenced a two-year contract
with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to launch
the Licensed Adult Residential Care Association (LARCA) that will
advocate and increase survivability for operators of Residential
Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and Adult Residential
Facilities (ARFs). According to the California Department of Social
Services, many ARFs have closed due to increasing costs and lack of
appropriate funding. Los Angeles
has lost 24% of its Adult Residential Facilities and 37% of its
Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly between 2015 and
March 2020.
"The Board and Care system is a specialized type of permanent
housing for individuals with disabilities, including those with
behavioral health challenges. Because existing funding structures
no longer provide adequate support for Board and Care facilities,
they are disappearing at an alarming rate across L.A. County," said
Dr. Jonathan Sherin, M.D., Ph.D.,
Director of L.A. County Department of Mental Health. "The
Department of Mental Health, with unprecedented support from the
Board of Supervisors and from Supervisor Janice Hahn in particular, is laser focused on
reforming Board and Care funding mechanisms in order to not only
rescue and improve the conditions of the existing Board and Care
network, but also to expand the network as part of combating
homelessness as well as mass incarceration of individuals with
mental illness. In particular, LA County is asking the Federal
government to dramatically increase social security reimbursement
for Board and Care or to allow the use of Section 8 vouchers for
Board and Care beds, either of which could accomplish our
goals."
This Association will stabilize, sustain, and improve the
quality of permanent housing for individuals with serious mental
illness (SMI), from formerly homeless individuals to seniors, as
well as individuals with other disabilities in Los Angeles County who need daily support.
NAMI GLAC's Executive Director
Traute Winters stated, "Forming
this Association will allow us to collectively advocate on behalf
of our most vulnerable citizens and ensure that facilities who
serve low income and homeless individuals with serious mental
illness (SMI) have access to relevant education and training,
up-to-date policies and regulations, as well as a voice here in
Los Angeles County and
Sacramento." She added, "Housing
is a great need in Los Angeles
County and ensuring that facilities providing these services
are supported is a critical part of the solution."
About The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
(LACDMH)
As the nation's largest public mental health
department, we ensure access to care and treatment for our most
vulnerable residents in a region with more than 10 million people.
With an annual budget approaching $3B
and a committed staff of 6,000, LACDMH embodies a "heart-forward"
approach to supporting hope, recovery and wellbeing across the
County. For more information on LACDMH, visit
https://dmh.lacounty.gov or follow @LACDMH
on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About The National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Los
Angeles County (NAMI GLAC)
NAMI GLAC is the leading countywide
organization composed of grassroots-based chapters that promote
wellness, recovery, equality and dignity for individuals and
families affected by mental illness and the community at large.
They work to provide leadership in advocacy, education, support,
and public awareness throughout Los
Angeles County.
Mental illness can be treated, and people living with mental
illness can recover to live fulfilling lives. To learn more about
how NAMI can help, visit namiglac.org. All NAMI programs and
services are free of charge for individuals living with mental
illness and families and friends who care for them.
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nami-glac-to-form-a-new-association-to-preserve-and-protect-residential-care-facilities-for-vulnerable-individuals-in-los-angeles-county-301410069.html
SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Greater Los Angeles County