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
Long-awaited research findings signal need to pay attention to our fragile system of licensed facilities serving people with mental illness: A conversation with The Future Organization (Part One)
This is Part One of a two-part podcast interview.
A long-awaited research study and report prepared by The Future Organization (TFO) helps to shine a light on an important, but fragile segment of our housing continuum for people with mental health conditions, many formerly homeless. Colloquially referred to as “board & care homes,” they are officially referred to as Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs).
Sponsored by Brilliant Corners and funded by the California Community Foundation and Cedars Sinai, the study was part of an initiative involving the participation of the LA County Department of Mental Health, the LA County Department of Health Services, and Genesis LA, with intention to draw attention to the issues affecting licensed residential facilities that care for people with serious mental illness in our communities.
In this interview with the study’s authors, Aimery Thomas and Leila Towry of The Future Organization, we will learn about the scope of their research, the intent of the study, and explore some of the findings and insights from their year of research:
- The “Market” in Los Angeles County, which consists of over 750 licensed facilities serving people with mental illness and elderly residents;
- “Market Users,” or the range of agencies, service providers, government partners and others who are connected with, or place clients into, licensed facilities;
- The Market’s residents: their demographics, perceptions, and unmet needs; and,
- The owners and operators and their challenges, needs and perceptions.
This promises to be an eye-opening interview for anyone involved in the homeless housing sector as the importance of this housing resource in serving people with experience of homelessness is not often acknowledged or understood. In fact, as the study reports, owners and operators of these facilities feel invisible and disconnected from the policy and agency connections who could provide vital aid to sustain them in the important work they do in caring for the most vulnerable in our communities across Los Angeles County.
Part Two of this conversation will largely focus upon the recommendations of the study report.
Here are some links to help you navigate this issue:
Summary of study findings from Brilliant Corners website re/ this study.
Full report, Serving our Vulnerable Populations: Los Angeles County Adult Residential Facilities and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, August 2023.
August 26, 2023 article in LA Times about the release of the TFO report.
July 12, 2022 article in LA Times about continuing closure of board & care homes
Blog at Accoglienza.us