On Thursday, there was an announcement that supervisor Antonovich is proposing to consolidate the three health agencies: Dept. of (1) Mental Health (2) Public Health, and (3) Health Services, in LA County into one agency. This will be heard at the Supervisor's meetingnext Tuesday (1/13/15).
The problem with this action is that consolidating the three agencies will dilute the power of the Dept. of Mental Health. By combining the agencies, less of a priority will be placed on mental health than with a single focused agency like the DMH. Also, employees with less experience in mental health from outside of the DMH may end up holding positions involving mental health issues when the agencies are combined. It is being pitched as a way to solve bureaucracy, but in fact it will break a system that has put a priority on mental health. Please call your district supervisor and let them know how you feelbefore 1/13/15:
*If you're not sure which to call, just look it up here or just pick one or two.
First District
Hilda L. Solis (213) 974-4111
Second District
Mark Ridley-Thomas (213) 974-2222
Third District (westside)
Sheila Kuehl (213) 974-3333
Fourth District
Don Knabe (213) 974-4444
Fifth District
Michael D. Antonovich (213)974-5555
