Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
The American mental health system is broken beyond repair. Rather than trying to tweak a system which fails everyone, it is time to commit to a bold vision for a better way forward. This podcast explores the American system against the plumb line of an international best practice, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Trieste, Italy. The 40-year old Trieste model demonstrates how a community-based treatment system upholds the human rights of the people served. The Trieste story is anti-institutional and models the therapeutic value of social connection. Topics will address contemporary challenges in the American failed mental health system as contrasted with the Italian approach toward accoglienza – or radical hospitality – as the underpinning of their remarkable culture of caring for people. Interviews will touch upon how the guiding principles of the Italian system – social recovery, whole person care, system accountability, and the human right to a purposeful life – are non-negotiable aspects if we are to have any hope of forging a new way forward in our American mental health system. This podcast is curated and hosted by Kerry Morrison, founder and project director of Heart Forward LA (https://www.heartforwardla.org/). Heart Forward is collaborating with Aaron Stern at Verdugo Sound as the technical partner in producing this podcast (https://www.verdugosound.com). Kerry Morrison is also the author of the blog www.accoglienza.us.
Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
Whispering at Ground Level: How to build trust with people suffering on the street. A Conversation with Anthony Ruffin.
Anthony Ruffin is a gifted and compassionate crisis worker who relentlessly seeks to establish trust with the most vulnerable people living on the streets. His career spans working with both nonprofit organizations and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. He gives homage to a mentor who many were privileged to know during her amazing and courageous life of caring and service, Mollie Lowery of Housing Works
In this interview, we are going to gain vicarious insight into Anthony’s approach and see the realities of this human crisis through his eyes.
Anthony has visited Trieste twice and he will compare and contrast how people with mental illness are cared for in that community in comparison with the U.S.
Articles that have shined a light on Anthony's compassionate approach:
A true L.A. hero: For people dying on L.A. streets, he offers help, and he won't take no for an answer - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
The Fight to House Hollywood's Sickest Homeless - The Atlantic
'It's almost like a death watch': Severely ill homeless people are at risk of dying on the streets of Hollywood - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
Homelessness: A walk along Skid Row in L.A.—block by bleak block (calmatters.org)
Should California expand what it means to be 'gravely disabled'? - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)