FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Laura Mecoy
(310) 546-5860
Laura@mecoy.net
VENICE FAMILY CLINIC PRAISES L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISORS’
FOCUS ON LATINO MENTAL HEALTH
Community Health Center Has Focused on Providing Patients Same-Day Counseling in Connection with Primary Care and Other Services
LOS ANGELES – (June 23, 2020) – Mimi Lind, Director of Behavioral Health Services at Venice Family Clinic, a nonprofit community health center that serves nearly 28,000 people in need across Los Angeles, issued the following statement in response to the resolution being considered today by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors that calls on county agencies to address the need to enhance mental health services for the Latino community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Pro Tem Hilda L. Solis and Supervisor Janice Hahn authored the motion to improve and expand mental health services to underserved Latino communities throughout L.A. County.
“We thank L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Pro Tem Hilda Solis, Supervisor Janice Hahn and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for recognizing the need to enhance mental health services for the Latino community, which is disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if they don’t have health insurance.
“Nearly 60% of Venice Family Clinic’s patients are Latinx, and many of them had no choice but to work in high-risk essential service jobs—or lose their incomes – during the pandemic. In doing so, they and their families are at greater risk of infections, especially with multiple generations often living under one roof. Three out of four of our patients live at or below the federal poverty level, which is approximately $26,000 per year for a family of four, and the pandemic has added considerably to their pre-existing economic stress. COVID-19 has significantly increased emotional stress for the entire community, but especially for our patients.
“We appreciate L.A. County acknowledging the important role nonprofit community health centers, like Venice Family Clinic, play in providing behavioral health services to lower income communities. Venice Family Clinic is a leader in providing same-day counseling to our patients. We have a counselor available during business hours to speak immediately with our patients who are having a hard time coping with the stress of these times.
“During the pandemic, we are one of the only community health centers continuing to offer counseling in-person as well as via telehealth or the phone. Venice Family Clinic offers its patients group and individual counseling and other services for anyone needing additional support. We appreciate the county’s focus on mental health issues and look forward to continuing to partner with the county in providing these much-needed services to our patients.”
About Venice Family Clinic
Venice Family Clinic is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to people in need. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Clinic has grown from a small storefront operation into one of Los Angeles’ leading community health centers, providing care to nearly 28,000 men, women and children annually through sites in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood and Culver City. The Clinic leads the way in providing comprehensive and integrated care by creating a one-stop health system that offers multiple services, often at the same locations and same time as primary care appointments. These services include dental care, substance use treatment, mental health services, vision screenings, child development services, health education, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, street medicine for people experiencing homelessness and health insurance enrollment. For more information, visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.