The Assistance League of Southern California founded “WRAP Family Services” as a pilot project on Pico Blvd. to address the lack of social services for APIs in Los Angeles by focusing on community outreach. In 1990, the agency moved to Westchester and expanded its services to include Family Preservation, CalWORKs, and became a member of the API Alliance in 1991. In 1994, it added an Adult Services contract.
In 1997, PACS divested and incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) so the organization could respond more directly to the mental health and social services needs of the API communities. At that time, the agency focused on children with its primary funding source from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health through its EPSDT contracts. In 1999, it opened a second office in San Fernando Valley and in 2000, a third office in Long Beach.
In January 2006, the agency changed its name to “Pacific Asian Counseling Services” (PACS) to better reflect its services. Over the years, PACS has served thousands of low-income children, families and adults from all ethnicities such as APIs, Hispanixs and African Americans.
Located at three sites, PACS covers a large section of LA County including Long Beach, Carson, the South Bay Cities, Hawthorne, Inglewood, South Central, West Los Angeles areas such as Mar Vista, Venice, Culver City, Santa Monica and Westchester, and the San Fernando Valley including Van Nuys, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, and Canoga Park.
One of the unique features of the organization is its multilingual and multi-cultural perspective. With over 45 different Asian languages in the County, PACS is committed to hiring bilingual and bicultural staff because language and cultural sensitivity are identified barriers to accessing care. Generally, there are staff who speak English, Spanish, Cantonese, Japanese, Khmer (Cambodian), Korean, Mandarin, Samoan, Tagalog (Pilipino), Thai and Vietnamese.
During the Fiscal Year 2018-2019, PACS had 849 clients and provided 16,513 counseling sessions. Approximately 50% of the clients were children between infancy to 21 years in age while the other 50% were between 22 and 65 years of age. The ethnic breakdown was 41% Hispanix, 23% APIs, 23% African American, 10% White, 2% Other (usually self-identified as mixed or biracial) and 1% Unknown. The FY2019-2020 budget is nearly $7.4 million with increased contract funding to serve the homeless and recently incarcerated.
• Family members so they can better understand
• the mental health issues of their loved ones
• Ethnic and/or underserved communities
• Psychiatric consultation and medication support for ongoing clients
• School related concerns such as disruptive classroom behavior, ADHD, etc.
• Co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues
• Trauma recovery
• Grief and bereavement issues
• Improving interpersonal communication
• Bridging the cultural and generational gap in families
• Conflict resolution
• Adjusting to situational stress from divorce, job loss, relocation, etc.
• Schools – Assistance to monolingual and limited English speaking parents to communicate with school personnel about their child.
• Assistance to enroll in low cost insurance programs such as Healthy Famililes and Healthy Kids.
• Vocational services – Assistance in the preparation for employment, GED and/or post employment services.
• Linkage to immigration and legal services
• Provide translation services and interpreters for PACS’ monolingual and limited English speaking clients.
• Families with a child(ren) when both parents are in the home but the
principal earner is unemployed.
• Needy caretaker relatives of a foster child(ren)
• Substance Abuse services including evaluation and treatment;
• Mental Health services (depression, anxiety, etc.) including assessment, case management, treatment and rehabilitation
Identify and develop strategies to overcome stigma
Educate the community about mental health (emotional well-being)
Overcome disparity for underserved communities
the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
under the Mental Health Service Act (MHSA).
• Intensive case management programs;
• Medication support and monitoring services;
• Outpatient, home-based mental health intervention;
• Augmented services;
• Comprehensive pre-vocational and vocational training and support programs;
• Wellness centers that are culturally and linguistically appropriate.
• Homeless and/or at-risk of homelessness
• Not currently served by the mental health system due to geographic, cultural isolation
• Are without peer, family or community support
• Living in institutional care
• Incarcerated or has frequent contact with the criminal justice system
• Living at home, in residential care or sober living facilities and not receiving the appropriate care that result in exacerbation of mental illness conditions
Peer support from people with experiences similar to yours.
Transportation that gets you and your child to where you need to go for services.
Help with access to physical health care for your child and family members.
Housing services that help you find suitable housing for your family.
Assistance getting financial and health benefits for which your child and family are eligible.
Substance abuse and domestic violence counseling and assistance.
A team dedicated to working with your child and family as you plan and accomplish goals that are important to your health, well-being, safety and stability.
♦Has a parent/caregiver with a mental illness and/or substance abuse problem;
♦Has extreme behavior problems at school;
♦Has been in out-of-home placement and is moving back into a home/community setting.
♦Has a co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
♦Is on probation and taking psychotropic medication.
to one of the partners -- APCTC, APFC, KYCC, or PACS -- who will forward it to the FSP child navigator for approval and assignment to agency that has the appropriate language and cultural support for the child and his/her family.
MAP has proved successful with children and adults who have significant emotional problems (e.g., symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, disruptive behavior or depression).
It develops affordable, transitional housing for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. It was one of the first transitional housing facilities in the U.S. to focus on the needs of API domestic violence survivors by providing culturally sensitive and language appropriate services.
County of Los Angeles Department of ACCESS/HOTLINE: operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week as the entry point for mental health services in Los Angeles County. Services include deployment of crisis evaluation teams, information and referrals, gate-keeping of acute inpatient psychiatric beds, interpreter services and patient transport.
The committee plays a key role in presenting the needs of API clients in the mental health system. With millions in funding coming into the County, it is crucial that access to services for the many API monolingual and limited English speaking clients with mental illness increases.
Multidisciplinary, multilingual and multicultural behavioral healthcare services to Asian immigrant families in San Gabriel Valley.
Affordable counseling including prevention and educational services such as premarital counseling, marriage enrichment programs, parent education, etc.
Provides multilingual, culturally sensitive legal services, education and civil rights support to APIs.
Serves the needs of youth and families with a focus on Asian immigrants. Located in San Gabriel area.
A multi-ethnic human rights organization whose mission is to assist persons trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and slavery-like practices and to work toward ending all instances of such human rights violations. The issue of trafficking is presented within the larger context of worker exploitation, transnational migration and violence against women and children. Programs include Social Services, Legal Services, and Training & Advocacy. It opened the first shelter for trafficked women in the U.S. CAST partners with law enforcement and government agencies to ensure criminal prosecution of traffickers and to provide training and outreach to key personnel in the field, affected communities and the general public.
APCF is a community-based fund that promotes philanthropy to address the diverse needs of APIs in Southern California. APCF raises and collects individual donations on behalf of its 28 member agencies through workplace giving campaigns and makes unrestricted grants to its members annually.
Dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence. Located in Venice, CA.
To plan, provide, advocate and coordinate accessible, affordable, culturally competent and effective health care services that targets underserved Asians and Pacific Islanders and offers services to all individuals; and to provide programs of community economic development for the benefit of low income API communities in Hollywood, the greater downtown area, North Hollywood and any other areas with unmet needs in Los Angeles County.
It is the largest community-based Chinese American health and human service organization in Southern California serving immigrants, refugees and others in need of assistance in their adjustment to American life. With a focus on Los Angeles County, CSC offers a range of services through six departments. These are (1) Social Service, (2) Counseling, (3) Family Health, (4) Community Economic Development, (5) Workforce Development, and (6) Youth Development. Services are available in a variety of Chinese dialects, including Cantonese, Mandarin, Toisan, Chiu Jou, and languages including Vietnamese, Spanish, and Khmer (Cambodian).
LEAP develops APA leaders nationwide with a philosophy that asserts that APAs can retain their unique culture, identity and values while developing the skills required for effective leadership within their organizations, communities and broader society. It expands the civic participation, public understanding and leadership development of Asian Pacific Americans.
The Los Angeles County Community Child Welfare Coalition (CCWC) is a voluntary collaboration among nearly 50 community-based and faith-based organizations. The purpose of the CCWC is to improve the outcomes for children and families in Los Angeles County, particularly those that fall within, or that may fall within, the child welfare arena.
NICOS Chinese Health Coalition is a public-private community partnership of more than 30 health and human service organizations and concerned individuals. For materials about gambling.
One of the nation’s largest social service organizations serving Korean Americans and the multi-ethnic Koreatown community by providing comprehensive services to recently immigrated, economically disadvantaged youth and families to promote community socio-economic empowerment. Services are available in Korean, English and Spanish.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Ask for help and support from your health plan. Your health plan may cover mental health treatment, individual and family behavioral counseling, eating disorders, anger management, anxiety treatment and other confidential services. Talk to your doctor about seeing a mental health specialist.
Please view and download amazing films created by young and talented film makers.
Empowers people with lived experience of mental illness to share their first-hand perspective of recovery.
KFAM’s mission is to support and strengthen Korean American families and individuals in the greater Los Angeles area through counseling, education, and other social services. Since its inception in 1983, KFAM has provided assistance to tens of thousands of Korean Americans—particularly women, children, immigrants, and low-income families. KFAM specializes in providing linguistically and culturally appropriate services through its bilingual and bi-cultural staff.
It addresses the alcohol, tobacco, and other drug issues of the API populations nationally. This nationwide network consists of about 200 AAPI and human service organizations, including service providers, families, and youth to promote health, social justice and reduce substance abuse and related problems.
For problems or complaints about your health plan.
LTSC has many programs. Its service department offers a comprehensive range of services to low-income people In Little Tokyo and surrounding areas of Los Angeles such as counseling, case management, help clients obtain benefits and assistance such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal, and advocate on behalf of monolingual people unfamiliar with U.S. culture and government. Its education programs reach people of all ages and ethnicities including early child development programs for children ages 0-5; cultural education programs for those interested in Japanese American culture; tutoring and mentoring programs for youth; and technology classes. It also plans, promotes and supports community development activities that preserve the Japanese American and multi-ethnic culture and history of Little Tokyo and contribute to Little Tokyo's physical, social, cultural and economic revitalization.Make The Connection
Unite the hundreds of organizations working together to create health systems that serve minds and bodies, and the millions of Californians who refuse to stay silent while untreated mental illness takes an unnecessary toll on our families and communities. Together, we are creating a California where Each Mind Matters. The campaign has adopted the green ribbon as a symbol of Mental Health Awareness. A New State of Mind, documentary is available to stream off of the website, along with a vignettes that present stories of hope and recover. Languages: English & Spanish.
An evidence based surveillance tool and a screening test for professionals to help identify children at risk and those with undetected developmental and behavioral disabilities.
For information and education materials about getting the most out of your health plan, call 1-866-466-8900.
By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.
Learn facts about suicide; most importantly that suicide is preventable. Learn how you can support others who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide, and find local resources such as crisis hotlines and support groups that can provide care.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline will connect you to a trained crisis counselor at your nearest local crisis center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Spanish language counselors, call 1-888-628-9454.
This guidebook was created to help students better understand suicide and depression, how to recognize warning signs in themselves or their peers and what they can do to intervene.
To assist the Pilipino American communities through youth development, health, economic and social services including housing.
Address the employment and job training needs of the Asian Pacific Islander communities including services such as workforce development, housing services and development, business assistance, early childhood education and youth services. Job training in the Hollywood/downtown/Chinatown areas.
Provides teens and young adults with a non-threatening first step to explore how they can help themselves through a tough time. This online resource, provides the facts about mental health issues and skills an opportunity to connect to peers through Forums and ReachOut TXT offers support and information via text message from trained teen and young adult volunteers. Languages: English & Spanish.
Resumes are accepted for all positions and are kept active for 3 months from receipt. They will be reviewed for possible matches if a position becomes available during that period.
Bilingual staff are welcome, especially in Spanish and all API languages as well as individuals who are community oriented and bicultural. It is helpful if you have experience with DMH documentation, structured treatment planning, training in an EBP and strong time management skills. Many of our clients come from communities with high levels of trauma, poverty, substance abuse and chronic homelessness. Staff need to have true compassion to help the underserved and a belief that clients can recover to lead meaningful lives. PACS also hires individuals with lived experience as peers to advocate for clients and provide additional supportive services. The agency also has home visitors programs at two of its locations that hire non-clinical staff.
Resumes with cover letters may be faxed to the attention of Joycelyn Manzano, Director of Human Resources at 310 337-2805 or emailed to jmanzano@pacsla.org.
6931 Van Nuys Blvd., Ste.200
Van Nuys, CA 91405
Phone Number: (818) 989-9214
Fax Number: (818) 989-9217
9 am to 6 pm
Monday thru Friday
Other hours may be arranged by appointment.
8616 LA Tijera Blvd., Ste.200
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone Number: (310) 337-1550
Fax Number: (310) 337-2805
3530 Atlantic Ave., Ste. 210
Long Beach, CA 90807
Phone Number: (562) 424-1886
Fax Number: (562) 424-2296