August 23, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Proposal to consolidate county public health services draws fire from health advocates

Mental health advocates argued that consolidating services would ultimately short-change mentally ill patients. (Thinkstock)
Mental health advocates argued that consolidating services would ultimately short-change mentally ill patients. (Thinkstock)

A proposal to consolidate the county’s public health, mental health and health services departments drew fire from mental health advocates and others on Tuesday.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich proposed the consolidation as a way to “enhance patient care and access” and “streamline bureaucratic processes.”

Dozens of mental health advocates argued that consolidating services would ultimately short-change  mentally ill patients.

“Large health systems have not typically provided enough focus on mental health,’ said Brittney Weissman, executive director of the Los Angeles County Council of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

When mental health services were previously grouped with general medical care, “mental health became a stepchild,” she said.

Many who said they live with mental illness praised the Department of Mental Health for helping them dramatically change their lives.

Some opposed the plan outright, while others urged the board to get feedback from stakeholders, invoking the slogan “Nothing about us without us.”

“We all agree about having stakeholders in the process,” Antonovich said.

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, who headd the Department of Public Health for 16 years, warned that if his old department became a division of the Department of Health Services, it would “jeopardize the health of Angelenos” as “public health has a fundamentally different mission than DHS.”

Still, Fielding said it was “well worth considering” an umbrella agency over all three departments to promote coordination and collaboration.

The Department of Public Health is responsible for managing outbreaks of communicable diseases; runs programs to promote health goals such as childhood vaccination; and inspects restaurants and nursing homes. It is designed to serve all 10 million county residents, Fielding told the board, rather than the roughly 10 percent of residents that make use of county clinics and hospitals run by DHS.

The union representing county healthcare workers signaled its potential support, calling consolidation a “bold idea.”

“Done right,” the change could cut through bureaucratic red tape and improve patient care, said Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721.

Supervisors Hilda Solis, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl each expressed support for breaking down walls between departments.

Schoonover voiced his confidence in Dr. Mitchell Katz, who runs DHS and could be chosen to lead an umbrella agency. No permanent replacement has yet been hired for Fielding, who retired last year.

Dr. Marvin Southard, who has run the Department of Mental Health since 1998, said he would work to make sure that Los Angeles County remained a “national leader in providing for hope, wellness and recovery” in whatever organizational structure the board put in place.

Katz told the board he envisioned “three independent departments working together,” each with its own budget. He said no jobs should be lost as a result of the new structure.

In an interview with City News Service, Katz offered more details.

The three departments would work “as equals … each helping each other to do a better job,” Katz said.

Staffers would be more likely to collaborate to solve problems if they were part of a single agency with a common set of priorities, he said.

“We don’t have to shake everything up,” said the DHS director, but he pointed to substance abuse as a problem that typically requires attention from all three departments.

One  “compelling” statistic, Katz said, is that those suffering from serious mental illness have a life expectancy roughly 20 years shorter than non- sufferers. This is true even though they typically die not from suicide, but medical causes, he said.

Supervisor Don Knabe stressed that the proposal amounted to a “look- see,” saying he had fielded many calls about the issue by telling constituents to “take a deep breath.”

The board directed a working group to report back in 60 days with a potential structure for consolidation, a timeline for implementation and drawbacks to integration. The group was asked to gather input from various stakeholders.

At Ridley-Thomas’ urging, the group will consider merging the Sheriff’s Department’s medical services bureau, as well.

 

Related Posts

Two Days, Two Denials: Menendez Brothers Rejected for Parole

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Erik Denied After 10-Hour Hearing; Lyle Rebuffed the Next Day Erik Menendez, convicted along with his brother in the 1989...

Rob Reiner to Attend for ‘This is Spinal Tap’ as Cinespia Wraps Summer at Hollywood Forever

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Cinespia Closes Out Summer: Fan Favorites and DJs Return to Hollywood Forever Cinespia will close out summer with four outdoor...

Amber Alert for a Critical Missing Incident: Two Foster Brothers Abducted

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Police Seek Non-Custodial Mother Jackeline Hernandez-Torres The California Highway Patrol issued a statewide Amber Alert after two foster brothers, ages...

Culver City Police Seize Ghost Gun: Suspect Arrested After Traffic Stop

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Officers Uncover Untraceable Firearm With High-Capacity Magazine Police say a traffic stop near Prospect Avenue and Venice Boulevard resulted in...

Man Arrested After Burglary Report at Lionel Richie’s Beverly Hills Home

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Police Say the Singer Was Home When the Suspect Entered the Property One suspect was taken into custody early Friday...

Extreme Heat Warning Extended in L.A. County: Officials Urge Safety Precautions

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

National Weather Service Alerts Cover Valleys, Mountains, and Coastal Areas Dangerous heat is expected to persist through the weekend in...

Ex-Culver City Recreation Worker Indicted: Charged With Exploiting 7-Year-Old in Federal Case

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Prosecutors Say the Former After-School Employee Faces Child Pornography Charges Federal prosecutors say a former Culver City after-school employee has...

Jury Awards $3.8M to Man Injured by Rubber Bullet During 2020 George Floyd Protest in the Fairfax District

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Filmmaker Suffered Permanent Injuries After Being Struck by a Sheriff’s Deputy’s Round Los Angeles County must pay nearly $4 million...

LAPD Urges Possible Victims to Come Forward in Sexual Assault Case Linked to Social Media

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Suspect Arrested Aug. 20 on Suspicion of Forcible Rape Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help in identifying...

Frozen Shrimp Recall Expanded to California After Radioactive Contamination Concerns

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Southwind Foods Adds California Shrimp Recall Tied to Possible Cesium-137 Exposure Southwind Foods, LLC is recalling select packages of frozen...

LAPD to Step Up DUI Enforcement With Weekend Checkpoints and Patrols

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Police Plan Multiple Operations Across Los Angeles August 22-24  The Los Angeles Police Department will operate a series of DUI...

Little C by Crustacean Pop-Up Brings Back Mama An’s Street Food in Beverly Hills

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Fan-Favorite Dishes Return Through Aug. 24, With the Debut of Bánh Xèo Little C by Crustacean has returned this month...

Kids Eat Free at Tender Greens Century City During Back-to-School Nights in August

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

Weeknight Promotion Offers Free Kids’ Meals With the Purchase of an Entrée. Families dining at Tender Greens in the Westfield...

Stoa Wine Bar & Market Debuts in Marina del Rey With Old-World Charm and California Ease

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

New Westside Spot Blends European Traditions, Seasonal Fare, Philosophy of Slowing Down Blending European tradition with California ease, Stoa Wine...

Two LA Culinary Icons and Friends Reunite for One-Night-Only Dinner at Marelle

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

Chefs Team Up With Five-Course Tasting Celebrating California Flavors  Two of Los Angeles’ most celebrated chefs will share the kitchen...