LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council approved recommendations Wednesday aimed at improving the coordination, delivery and communication of general and behavioral health services.
In a 12-0 vote, council members instructed staff to work with county officials to identify organizations, by council districts, that are currently providing health services and report back with strategies to better serve Angelenos.
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Other city departments will be tasked with identifying academic institutions and certification programs that could aid in the effort.
Additionally, the city will look to address behavioral health workforce shortages through possible incentives, such as student loan repayment, payment of school and certification fees and moving stipends, among other ideas.
Council members Bob Blumenfield, Eunisses Hernandez, Nithya Raman, Paul Krekorian and Monica Rodriguez initiated the effort through a motion they introduced in late January.
According to the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California’s February 2023 report, which surveyed 57 counties across the state, more than 70% of county behavioral health agencies had difficulty recruiting new hires.
The workforce is composed of licensed mental health and substance-use disorder professionals, ranging from licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, nurse practitioners and registered nurses to peer support specialists, care coordinators and others.
In the greater Los Angeles area, these professionals provide services to vulnerable populations, and many work for the county and city as part of regional alternative crisis response.
The city relies on behavioral health professionals through partnerships with the county to support co-deployment models such as the L.A. Fire Department’s Advanced Provider Response Units, SOBER Units and Therapeutic Van program, as well as the Los Angeles Police Department’s Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Teams, Mental Evaluation Units and Case Assessment Management Program.
Officials are concerned that there are not enough behavioral health professionals to replace those who are at or near retirement age, or to meet the growing demand for these positions.
Previously, the county Board of Supervisors approved incentive programs to attract more field-based behavioral health workers.