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Are you ready to be an agent of change?

You have what it takes to make an impact. Serve your community and change lives every day. Join the LA County Department of Mental Health.

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Do work that

Serves individuals, communities, and the underserved — with dignity

Discover paths to cut through the system, Pushes through the system’s tape

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Is the most fulfilling of your career

Makes the change you want to see in the world

Your work can change lives.

Leave today better than you found it, LA County DMH has a place for you.
Meet some of the passionate folks working in LA County today and learn about the impact they’re having.
Evelio's photo

Meet Evelio
a Licensed Marriage
and Family Therapist

Tammy's photo

Meet Tammy
a Supervising
Community Health Worker

Joshua

Meet Joshua
a Psychiatrist

Tylana's photo

Meet Tylana
a Community
Health Worker

Shayan

Meet Shayan
a Supervising
Psychiatrist

Meet Shawn
a Licensed Clinical
Social worker

Sarah

Meet Sarah
a Psychologist

Meet Yoshado
a Supervising
Psychologist

Working at LACDMH

235,733

Individuals
served in 2022

#1 Largest

Mental health department
in the country

More than 6K

Employees at
85+ locations

Working for LACDMH is

fast-paced and collaborative

At LACDMH, we are a passionate team of problem-solvers who use our creativity to think “outside the box” to deliver quality care and services that bring dignity and respect to the communities we serve. Every day is different, and we thrive in a fast-paced environment, centered around empathy-led healing and creating resilience in communities.

Hands grasping together

Working for LACDMH is

full of variety with plenty of room to grow

Whether we’re supporting your licensure with supervision and flexible schedules or giving you a chance to move into new roles with more responsibility, LACDMH is a great place for career growth.

For more about support for training and licensure, email [email protected].

Pen in hand

There’s a role for you serving LACDMH

I want to serve my community

Consider these roles:

If you have lived experience with any of the following, you have what it takes to serve.

  • serving the public
  • as a member of a LA community
    navigating public services
  • challenges with mental health as a friend, family member or yourself
  • challenges with substance abuse as a friend, family member or yourself

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Community Health Worker
  • Senior Community Health Worker
  • Supervising Community Health Worker
  • Mental Health Promoter

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Medical Case Worker I

  • Medical Case Worker II

See open positions

* No advanced degree required

I am a mental health professional or will be soon

Consider these roles:

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Mental Health Clinician, Intern
  • Mental Health Clinician I
  • Mental Health Clinician I stipend
  • Mental Health Clinician II
  • Mental Health Clinician III
  • Mental Health Clinician IV
  • Mental Health Clinical Supervisor

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Assistant Mental Health Counselor, RN
  • Mental Health Counselor, RN
  • Senior Assistant Mental Health Counselor, RN
  • Nurse Practitioner / Psychiatric MH

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Psychiatric Technician I
  • Psychiatric Technician II
  • Psychiatric Technician III
  • Psychiatric Technician IV

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Mental Health Psychiatrist
  • Supervising Mental Health Psychiatrist
  • Relief Mental Health Psychiatrist

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Clinical Psychology Intern
  • Clinical Psychologist I
  • Clinical Psychologist I stipend
  • Clinical Psychologist II
  • Clinical Psychologist II / SS
  • Clinical Psychologist III
  • Clinical Psychologist IV
  • Supervising Psychologist

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Psychiatric Social Worker, Intern
  • Psychiatric Social Worker I
  • Psychiatric Social Worker II
  • Psychiatric Social Worker II / SS
  • Psychiatric Social Worker III
  • Psychiatric Social Worker IV
  • Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker
  • Mental Health Clinical Supervisor

See open positions

Related LA County Job Titles: 

  • Clinical Pharmacist

  • Occupational Therapist I

  • Occupational Therapist II

  • Pharmacy Supervisor I

See open positions

* No advanced degree required

**Intern, Associate, and Licensed roles available

Working for LACDMH is

rewarding work that’s also rewarded

Financial Incentives

The Department of Mental Health currently offers a number of financial incentive programs.

Other Benefits

  • Highly competitive benefit cafeteria plan with a benefit allowance for full-time employees
  • Paid sick leave and vacation time based on years of employment
  • Competitive compensation listed on every job posting
  • Field bonuses for certain classifications whose work is primarily field-based (employees represented by SEIU 721 and AFSCME unions are eligible for a monthly bonus of $180)
  • A defined benefit retirement plan for full-time employees

Stipend Program

LACDMH offers a training partnership with accredited professional schools that provides an $18,500 stipend to social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology and psychiatric nurse practitioner graduating students who agree to work in public mental health in LA County.

For more information about the program, contact us.

Commit to 
creating change

At the LA County Department of Mental Health, we create services and opportunities for our communities, focused on proactive and therapeutic resources, intensive care needed to help individuals in crisis, and a broad portfolio of resources to help clients find their way back to the resources, support and care they need. 

The Do Worthwhile Work campaign was created through a partnership between LA County Department of Mental Health and the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) to encourage more people to pursue careers with the LA County Department of Mental Health.

Ready to apply?

Check out our open positions

What to expect

As a public entity, the LA County Dept. of Mental Health hiring process is formal, structured, and comprehensive. That means it will take a bit of time and effort — but we promise, it’s worth it.

Let’s stay in touch

Want to make a difference working with us?

Sign up to express your interest in LA County Dept. of Mental Health

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Evelio

Evelio Franco serves his hometown with passion and pride

As a native Angeleno, Evelio Franco’s knowledge and love for his city is unrivaled and he brings that to his work every day.  For nine years, he’s been providing care and support to the communities that need it most; most recently as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Mental Health Clinic Program Manager at the Lincoln Heights clinic. He concentrates on making change one person at a time, because he feels this allows him to know this community and really give back.

As a native Angelino, Evelio Franco’s knowledge and love for his city is unrivaled and he brings that to his work every day.  For nine years, he’s been providing care and support to the communities that need it most; most recently as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Mental Health Clinic Program Manager at the Lincoln Heights clinic. He concentrates on making change one person at a time, because he feels this allows him to know this community and really give back.

How did you get started working in public mental health care?

When I came into this field, I started off as a case manager. Working in the clinics, I noticed that there was a real need for Spanish-speaking therapists and clinicians. I sat in on so many sessions acting as a translator for therapists that eventually I caught on and knew what question to ask next. I had a very supportive supervisor at the time. She encouraged me to get my master’s and get licensed. She helped me recognize that, as a Latino man, I could really be of value to my community. I know how much better it is to receive care from someone who speaks your language and understands your culture.

What skills or mindsets are needed to do this work?

It’s so important to know your value, to bring your culture proudly into the work, and to cultivate your ability to collaborate with others as a part of a team. And always bring your passion.

What’s it like to be a part of the LACDMH?

We rally together to deliver the “access to care” standard. Private providers are allowed to have an intake cap or months-long wait times to get an appointment. Not here. We find a way to serve whoever comes through our doors. Some people are so satisfied with their care from the county that they choose to pay for our services out-of-pocket, when they get insurance and would no longer qualify.

Evelio's photo
Evelio

 

What kind of impact do you get to have working together as a team?

We are always integrating with other social services to help our clients navigate the whole system in order to get them the best care possible. Like, if I have a Korean or Arabic speaking client at my clinic, I’m going to reach out to providers at other clinics who can speak their language because it’s so important to receive care in your native language. Or sometimes I won’t know about a resource and a colleague will say “hey, your client can get such and such. Here’s the number.” We all work together in helping our clients get what they need even when it’s beyond mental health care.

What advice do you have for someone who’s considering a career with LACDMH?

Remember what your initial passion is. Five years from now, ten years from now you have to remember that reason and keep going back to it. If it’s a family member that went through something or your own experience, whatever it is, your first instinct is the right one.

What keeps you engaged with the work you do?

I thrive with the variety of people and the exposure to situations I get to see working for the county. I worked in clinics, then spent several years doing crisis work in the field, now I’m back in the clinics. And of course, there’s nothing like seeing a client make progress in their recovery — from picking someone up off the street, or after being released from jail, to getting them the medications they need, or helping them secure their own apartment. It’s very rewarding work. The longer you stay, the more stories you have.

Los Angeles

Can you picture yourself as a Marriage and Family Therapist at LACDMH?

Check out our open positions
Tammy

Tammy Lofton finds purpose through the variety and impact of her work

In her 23 years in community health, Tammy Lofton has served in almost every context: case management, placement, field work. Now, as a Supervising Community Health Worker, she puts her lived expertise to work, acting as a mentor to other Community Health Workers. She connects them to the resources their clients need, evaluates programs and services, and oversees community health programs at a peer resource center.

In her 23 years in community health, Tammy Lofton has served in almost every context: case management, placement, field work. Now, as a Supervising Community Health Worker, she puts her lived expertise to work, acting as a mentor to other Community Health Workers. She connects them to the resources their clients need, evaluates programs and services, and oversees community health programs at a peer resource center.

Working in the public context has a reputation of being intense. What keeps you committed to the work after so many years?

It’s challenging but it’s also so fulfilling. When you see change happening in someone, when they’re moving towards a better life — it’s all worth it. The way I see it, If we change one life — we’ve done something.

You also get to meet a lot of great people working in this space. For instance, there was a men’s home down the street from here that I remember. There was a gentleman that worked there who was so inspiring. A lot of the men in this home had been recently released from incarceration and the man just had such a genuine and caring way of connecting with them. He changed a lot of lives and I learned a lot from him.

What skills or mindsets are needed to do this work?

I look for someone who is genuine, even if that means being honest about ‘not feeling it today.’ We need people who will show up anyway. Someone who is happy about life. That’s contagious. It spreads. That’s good for all of our mental health. We also need to be humble, flexible, and bring an open-mind.

What’s a typical day like for you?

In my current role, I see myself as a coach or mentor, supervising peer counselors who are newer to their careers. I help them feel comfortable and empowered. I help them find the best resources for their clients or for our community center. That’s what my days are usually like.

How do you know you’re having an impact?

When I started doing this work I wasn’t searching for it, so my perspective has changed on how much you can impact someone’s life. I still run into clients that remember something I said or did. It means so much to know that I’ve helped them.

What advice do you have for someone who’s considering a career with LACDMH? What should they know before they sign up?

Make sure you’re ready for the day-to-day variety. Bring your flexibility, your humility and your open mind. If you can bring these things to the table, you could be a perfect fit for public mental health and LA County.

Can you picture yourself as a Community Health Worker at LACDMH?

Check out our open positions
Dr. Joshua Ceñido

In one of LA’s highest-need geographies, Dr. Joshua Ceñido helps clients improve their quality of life

Dr. Joshua Cenido’s medical studies have taken him far and wide – to New York, England, France and Grenada. As a native Angeleno, he’s grateful to be back home serving in LA County. He’s been part of the LA County Department of Mental Health since 2018 when he joined the first class of the residency training collaboration between the Department of Mental Health and Charles Drew University. He served as one of the first chief residents of the program. Since 2022, he’s been working as a Psychiatrist at the Palmdale Mental Health Center located in Service Area 1 — one of the geographies with the most acute needs.

Dr. Joshua Cenido’s medical studies have taken him far and wide – to New York, England, and Grenada. As a native Angeleno, he’s grateful to be back home serving in LA County. He’s been part of the LA County Department of Mental Health since 2018 when he joined the first class of the residency training collaboration between the Department of Mental Health and Charles Drew University. He served as one of the first chief residents of the program. Since 2022, he’s been working as a Psychiatrist at the Palmdale Mental Health Center located in Service Area 1 — one of the geographies with the most acute needs.

When did you know you wanted to work as a Psychiatrist?

There were hints of this work in almost every part of my life. I grew up in a very Catholic home and so tending to the needs of others was instilled in me as something valuable and important. I even thought of becoming a priest at one point. That’s a role where you’re asked to relate to an individual and help them find a place of peace and fulfillment — there are a lot of similarities in that to what I do now.

I’ve also always been interested in the brain. It’s been interesting to think of how this almost-impossibly complex system with unimaginable potential is also so fragile to illness or injury, affecting our own personal lives as well as those around us – those we meet and those we may never meet. I’m fascinated by both the hard science as well as the social implications of the research and how it relates to mental health.

What’s a typical day like in your role?

I see clients from 7:30 AM until 6 PM in either 30 min or 1 hr increments depending on their particular needs. I see 9-14 patients per day in the clinic. It’s pretty straightforward patient care but it can be profound. I get to connect with and support individuals at a critical moment when they are their most vulnerable, most authentic selves. That’s what drew me to the field.

Joshua
Joshua

How do you support people in pivotal moments?

It’s my privilege to remind my clients to reflect on the obligations they have to themselves. I create an environment where they can reflect on their own needs, and where they might be neglecting themselves.  In our relationships with others, we tend to focus on what they expect from us in the roles we hold relative to them, like husband, son, brother, or father. For some of my clients, our conversations might be the first time someone has asked them to think about their own needs. A lot of men especially are able to open up to me. They might not have an answer as to what they need. There might only be tears, but I provide that safe space to slow down, to cry, and that can be enough in that moment.

Of course, the stereotype is: if you’re seeing a psychiatrist, it has to be about medication. On paper, that’s sometimes what it looks like. But it’s really not about medication. It’s about health and wellness. It’s about helping my clients improve their quality of life. I do that as part of a multidisciplinary team. In some ways, other teammates can go deeper with clients than I can, but it’s in how we work together that we can have the greatest impact. It’s a balance. It’s uplifting. It keeps me going.

What makes collaborating as a multidisciplinary team so powerful?

As a team, we are able to take a broader view in how we empower our clients to look after themselves  — relationally, physically, and mentally. For instance, I had a client who was depressed, they thought “no one else cares, so why should I?”  It was difficult challenging their assumption that no one cared. After a long back and forth, it turns out that they were often sad and sleeping a lot because they were avoiding physical pain, pain that they hadn’t tended to. They believed that because they completed a course of physical therapy after an accident, that that was it. That they just had to learn to deal with it. As a multidisciplinary team serving this client, we were able to help them on several fronts at once. The therapist used cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other techniques to help reframe their perceptions about others caring. At the same time, case managers were working to reconnect this individual with a primary care doctor and the resources to deal with some of the physical challenges. And yes, I could prescribe medication that this individual might benefit from. We were able to pursue several starting points at once and, through our collaboration, this individual’s quality of life has been getting better and better.

What advice do you have for someone considering a career with LACDMH?

The clients we serve often have the greatest need and it can be hard not to take their stories home with us. For me, it’s important to remember that the services we provide, strive to provide the support and resources they may need to face the day-to-day difficulties of their lives. All the work we put in, is making these individuals’ worlds a better place. Who knows if we’re making the world a better place, but we are making each individual’s life better. That’s real.

Can you picture yourself as a Psychiatrist at LACDMH?

Check out our open positions
Tylana

Empathy, respect, and southern hospitality anchor Tylana Thomas’s approach

When Tylana started working as a Service Extender in 2011, she was drawn to the prospect of connecting with and supporting people who were suffering. Twelve years later, she continues to do that and so much more as a Community Health Worker.

Originally from Arkansas, she extends her southern hospitality to everyone she works with — often referring to them as “Ma’am” or “Sir.” Tylana prides herself in treating everyone with dignity and respect, no matter what their situation looks like.

When Tylana started working as a Service Extender in 2011, she was drawn to the prospect of connecting with and supporting people who were suffering. Twelve years later, she continues to do that and so much more as a Community Health Worker.

Originally from Arkansas, she extends her southern hospitality to everyone she works with — often referring to them as “Ma’am” or “Sir.” Tylana prides herself in treating everyone with dignity and respect, no matter what their situation looks like.

Why do you choose to do this work? Why do you think it’s important?

After personally receiving help through LACDMH, I was inspired to join in. I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of mental health services and it’s invaluable to have someone who’s been through it helping you — to know that you’re not alone. One county employee in particular really left an impression on me. The hope I was given through them opened my eyes. It made me realize: I want to be someone who gives hope to others — I can also be a change agent.

What’s your philosophy on serving? How do you approach the work?

These are people. I see them as people. I call them by their name. I show up with consistency and I keep showing up. I tell them they’re worth it. Not everyone has had that kind of support. I don’t approach my work with judgment because I know how hard it can be to show up and ask for help.

I love my job. I love the work I do. I love being able to give back to a system where I figured out how to become well again.

Tylana's photo
Tylana

What’s a typical day like for you?

I’m currently working on the GENESIS Program (Geriatric Evaluation Networks Encompassing Services Intervention Support). It’s a program that supports older adults who are homebound. When I’m out and about I also keep a lookout for older folks who are unhoused. They’re often forgotten, yet they’re the most vulnerable. They typically try to hide away and not draw attention to themselves. You can see the signals if you know what to look for. It’s really heartbreaking but when we find them, we’re able to start building relationships and learn what we could offer to get them to a better place. Sometimes it’s getting them mental health services, or necessary medication or even connecting them to non-mental health related services or resources.

What kinds of impact have you been able to have in your role?

I had a homeless client a few years ago; she was older. She hadn’t bathed in years. We went with her to her doctor’s appointment. She was really good about following his instructions. So I asked the doctor to write her a prescription for a shower. I told him to be sure and write down ‘Use your favorite Dove soap’ in the details. Her eyes lit up when she saw the prescription. We were able to take her to bathe. The doctor didn’t think it would work. But I knew she would. After cleaning up, she was so happy. She was a new woman. She had dignity.

What advice do you have for someone who’s considering a career with LACDMH?

I would tell them: You are needed, especially if you’ve had experiences with receiving services. There are people who are going through what you went through right now. They need to know somebody around here has been through it and been successful.

Can you picture yourself as a Community Health Worker at LACDMH?

Check out our open positions
Dr. Shayan Rab

Innovating psychiatry and transforming lives is what motivates Dr. Shayan Rab to serve

Dr. Shayan Rab helped define the role of “street psychiatrists” and their approaches through his work with the Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement (HOME) Program from the LA County Department of Mental Health. The HOME program serves individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who are experiencing homelessness by bringing mental health services to them. Dr. Rab has been with the department since 2016 and is currently the Associate Medical Director for Field-based Services at the Department of Mental Health. He acts as Supervising Psychiatrist for all of the HOME teams, working across the eight service areas of LA County as well as for the field-based psychiatry component of the Hollywood 2.0 program.

Dr. Shayan Rab helped define the role of “street psychiatrists” and their approaches through his work with the Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement (HOME) Program from the LA County Department of Mental Health. The HOME program serves individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who are experiencing homelessness by bringing mental health services to them. Dr. Rab has been with the department since 2016 and is currently the Associate Medical Director for Field-based Services at the Department of Mental Health. He acts as Supervising Psychiatrist for all of the HOME teams, working across the eight service areas of LA County as well as for the field-based psychiatry component of the Hollywood 2.0 program.

Why did you decide to work for LA County?

I had been looking for a new challenge, one with professional growth, when I first heard about the HOME program that LA County was creating. They were looking for a “street psychiatrist,” a role that didn’t exist yet. There was no training for it. No one knew how they were going to adapt traditional psychiatric practices and bring them to the streets — but it sounded really cool. At the time, I was also living downtown and the position was in Skid Row and I thought: not only does this sound like a cool challenge but I would get to bike to work. I got the job and it changed my life.

What makes this work so pivotal for you?

Throughout all of my training when working in a psychiatric emergency room or an inpatient clinic, I saw homelessness through a very different lens. I did what I was taught to do, but I wasn’t transforming someone’s life. When I went to Skid Row, the reality hit me: this is where I had been discharging so many of my patients. This is how homelessness really exists. It was like waking up from the Matrix. 

The HOME program required us to develop new ways to provide ongoing care to people experiencing homelessness. We had a multidisciplinary team structure but we needed to figure out how psychiatry was going to weave into the fabric of the services we were providing. On the street, even basic tasks like checking vitals and drawing blood work differently than in a clinic. And if you’re living on the street, adhering to even the most basic treatment plan could be next to impossible. For instance, if medications could benefit a client, we needed to deliver them their daily dose each day at the right time and help them take it.  It took four years to develop the workflows, retrain ourselves, and communicate to the rest of the system who we were, what we were doing — we’re still honing our workflows.

Now, I divide my life into two distinct timelines. Before I became a street psychiatrist and after. This role changed how I view mental health and how I view people in general. 

Shayan
Shayan

What motivates you to serve in this role and this context?

Doing something new and innovative has been a defining direction for me. In medical school, I picked psychiatry because it was the most abstract area in medicine at the time. They don’t have all the answers, there aren’t as many people going into it. It is a field ripe for development and expansion, for discovery and creativity. Even when I completed my residency, my first real job was something new within psychiatry —  urgent care services. 

I also connect with the struggles of the people who I’m serving. I’m an immigrant to this country and so I understand the hardship and challenges that can come from trying to build a life for yourself here. There was a time in my life where I needed a lot of help and my family needed support. It’s like a magnet pulled me in this direction because I understood and respected the population. I wanted to serve them. 

What do you like best about your job?

When we can reunite families. Nothing can come close to that. We might get a referral of someone who has been living on the street, who has been lost to the concerns of the world. We make a bond with them. We become what I call their clinical family. They start getting better and maybe they give us a name or a phone number of someone. We reach out on their behalf and find out that their parents or loved ones have been looking for them for years. We call and say “we found your loved one and they’re doing well. Would you like to see them?”

What skills do people need to do this kind of work?

You have to have a kind heart, to believe everyone deserves a fair chance, and to be driven by purpose. It helps to have some lofty ideals.  At the same time, the art of outreach, the ability to build rapport and connect with someone on the street, can’t be taught. When you see someone in a clinic setting, they’re coming to you. It’s easy to start that conversation asking: “What brings you in? How can I help you?” We’ve had to reframe our entire approach. We introduce ourselves as “care providers on the street” and then focus on meeting immediate needs like food, clothing, and housing. Outreach is showing up every single day and doing that — not just once. You’re staying present, building a bond, showing a commitment to that person. It takes time. There are people who have been doing this work for decades; I’m still learning from them.

Can you picture yourself as a Psychiatrist at LACDMH?

Check out our open positions
Shawn's photo

Shawn Kim’s humility and creativity help him connect to those in need

For fifteen years, Shawn Kim has been bringing his all — and his whole self to his work with LA County. His first role was doing homeless outreach in Koreatown, later he served as a Supervisor on a Psychiatric Mobile Response Team, and now he’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Program Manager at East San Gabriel Valley Mental Health Center in Covina. In his current role, he oversees an outpatient clinic and peer resource center that offers care and support to some of the most vulnerable populations in his community. 

He credits his success in public mental health to his humility and passion, and he stays grounded by keeping close to his clients’ and colleagues’ needs.

For fifteen years, Shawn Kim has been bringing his all — and his whole self to his work with LA County. His first role was doing homeless outreach in Koreatown, later he served as a Supervisor on a Psychiatric Mobile Response Team, and now he’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Program Manager at East San Gabriel Valley Mental Health Center in Covina. In his current role, he oversees an outpatient clinic and peer resource center that offers care and support to some of the most vulnerable populations in his community. 

He credits his success in public mental health to his humility and passion, and he stays grounded by keeping close to his clients’ and colleagues’ needs.

How did you find your way into public mental health work? What about this work called to you?

I started in public mental health by working through AmeriCorps. I was placed into a role serving in a domestic violence context and that’s where I began to understand my own skills and potential. I realized that I could do this work, that I could be of service and that I could really make a difference for people.

What kinds of skills or mindsets do you think matter?

Humility. That’s the most important. If you have that, then generally speaking, you are someone who’s compassionate and usually a little more self reflective. We need people who are in touch with their emotions and with the emotions of others.

Do you have a story of how humility has shown up in your work?

When I worked with kids, I was a rookie clinician. I had these standard interview questions I would ask. Each week, I would show up and try to talk with this one kid, but he was so closed off. Then something just clicked after our third session and I brought a football. We spent the whole time just throwing the football and then finally we sat down and it was the first time he ever said anything to me. And that was the beginning of us connecting and it taught me that you have to connect to people first. You can’t just come in thinking you want to “help people.” You need to get to know them on their terms.

Shawn

What’s a typical day like?

No two days are ever the same. But I like it that way. One day could be quieter; then the next day, we have a crisis where everyone in the clinic has to drop everything to meet a need. In my current role, I’ve moved away from crisis work and direct client work, but it’s important for me to stay connected to that work because it’s what motivates and energizes me.

Working in public mental health in LA County is definitely more art than science. You have to think creatively in the moment. Like, ‘what can I do to build this connection?’ It’s like improv.

What advice do you have for someone who’s considering a career with LACDMH?

Think about yourself in the future. When you are looking back at your life, consider what is it that has really fulfilled you? If it’s feeling a sense of purpose, serving others and connecting to your community — you can get that at LACDMH while making a difference.

Can you picture yourself as a Social Worker at LACDMH?

Check out our open positions
Dr. Sarah Church-Williams

Partnering with police to protect the vulnerable, investing in patient care, or wearing a shield of compassion and care – It’s all in a day’s work for Dr. Sarah Church-Williams

For the last eight years Dr. Sarah Church-Williams has been working as a Clinical Psychologist on a Mental Evaluation Team (MET) which pairs mental health clinicians and law enforcement officers. While this co-responder model has been around for many years in LA County, Sarah was one of the first clinicians to serve across several smaller police departments who wouldn’t otherwise have the resources to support a full-time clinician. She currently works with three jurisdictions in the Southeast Region: Downey, Bell Gardens, and the City of Bell and is also “on call” with four other departments.

For the last eight years Dr. Sarah Church-Williams has been working as a Clinical Psychologist on a Mental Evaluation Team (MET) which pairs mental health clinicians and law enforcement officers. While this co-responder model has been around for many years in LA County, Sarah was one of the first clinicians to serve across several smaller police departments who wouldn’t otherwise have the resources to support a full-time clinician. She currently works with three jurisdictions in the Southeast Region: Downey, Bell Gardens, and the City of Bell and is also “on call” with four other departments.

How did you find your way to Psychology and to this role?

I’ve always been interested in the intersection of psychology and the law; I focused on forensic psychology for my doctorate. When my husband and I moved to LA after I finished my studies and he got a promotion, I was originally looking for roles in juvenile justice. I ended up serving adults, first working with a county contractor and then with the Department of Mental Health on a Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT). PMRTs offer a civilian mental health response for clients experiencing a psychiatric emergency in the community. After three years, I had the opportunity to take on the role I have now. At that time, there weren’t many positions in law enforcement, so it was a real privilege to be asked to help build this MET team. 

What is it like working on a MET team?

Each week, I base myself out of a different police station and ride along with different officers. I join officer briefings at 6 am and then spend the whole day with a unit until the end of my shift at 4:30. I go on all of their calls — not only the ones that have a clear mental health component. After we arrive, I wait for the officer radio that the situation is safe, and then I join them in the background. My expertise in de-escalation, in building rapport, and in quickly getting to the root of a problem can be helpful in all types of situations, and so there are times when an officer invites me to take the lead. 

I make it a point to dress in clothes that distinguish me from the officers. I wear my bulletproof vest labeled with “Department of Mental Health” over my normal clothes and I have a whole closet full of brightly colored pants. Because I’m not in uniform it can be easier for people to talk to me, to see me as a helper — even though the officer and I are both there for the same reason: to help them. 

Because I split my time between different jurisdictions, I’m always on the go. I carry everything I need with me. The patrol car is my office. I am always multitasking, responding to calls from other cities, doing case management — whatever needs to be done. 

Sarah

What’s it like collaborating with law enforcement?

We make such a good team. We’re able to solve difficult problems because we have both legal and mental health resources on hand. We tag-team questions from clients and families. I can speak to things like conservatorships, and an officer might be able to answer questions about evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, or domestic violence protection orders.

What makes working for LA County unique?

The beauty of working for the county is the variety of work. You don’t have to leave DMH to pursue a different avenue of service that excites you. Before working for the county, at my old job, I got promoted into a supervisory position, but that was it. I was basically waiting for someone to leave if I wanted a new challenge. Here if I get tired of working with law enforcement, I could work in a statistical analysis department, a training department, or do outpatient therapy at one of our clinics.

Working with my boss, I’ve been able to incorporate many of the things I’m passionate about into this role: I started a program where I train all the new officers in mental health basics. Not only that, I get to take the reins with program development. I do some grant writing. I collect data and do statistical analysis, both qualitative and quantitative. I also get to do grass roots community work which really inspires me — things like speaking to neighborhood watch groups and schools. 

And I’ve had great mentorship here. It was my previous boss, from when I was working with the county contract provider, who encouraged me to come to DMH. She loves working for the county and knew the PMRT role would be a great fit for me. My current boss is also a mentor. She has been so supportive and always encourages me to keep learning and growing, to keep trying new things, and developing as a psychologist.

How do you know you’re having an impact?

Even though crisis situations are part of my work everyday, for my clients and their families, hopefully our interaction is the only time they will go through something so intense. That means our work can have a huge impact on their lives. For instance, there was a young woman who had been placed with a foster family for many years. She was a frequent runaway, and we were called out for support when she threatened suicide and had left the family residence. We arrived and were able to detain her, to talk to her, to get her safely where she needed to be. She ended up graduating from high school and doing much better. Years later, I still run into her foster father and he is so grateful for our intervention and is a huge advocate of our program. Having our specialized unit — with a clinician, not just officers — show up and take control, de-escalate the situation and get his daughter the right care while treating her with respect and dignity in her moment of crisis, had a profound impact on him, too. 

I’m also seeing a culture shift within the departments where I work. There’s a willingness to acknowledge that officers need mental health services too.

Can you picture yourself as a Psychologist at LACDMH?

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Dr. Yoshado Lang

Dr. Yoshado Lang finds purpose advocating for the underserved and creating career pathways for therapists of color

Dr. Yoshado Lang has been working with the LA County Department of Mental Health for more than 17 years. His journey started with the county as an intern —  before he was licensed to practice psychology —  and continues today, as a Supervising Psychologist for the Hawkins Department of Mental Health Outpatient Program, operating in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles. Dr. Lang is passionate about creating pathways for therapists of color and helping those with a heart for serving underserved communities find their way into public mental health.

Dr. Yoshado Lang has been working with the LA County Department of Mental Health for more than 17 years. His journey started with the county as an intern —  before he was licensed to practice psychology —  and continues today, as a Supervising Psychologist for the Hawkins Department of Mental Health Outpatient Program, operating in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles. Dr. Lang is passionate about creating pathways for therapists of color and helping those with a heart for serving underserved communities find their way into public mental health.

How did you find your way to psychology?

I always had a call to serve. I wanted to work with people and to advocate for those who might not have a voice. I have family members who have struggled with mental health challenges and so that was a motivating factor for me in pursuing this profession as well.  When I was in undergrad at Loyola, I had a professor who was a psychologist and so I got to see the breadth of what Psychologists do — that it’s so much more than one-on-one therapy. Psychologists impact communities, they do program evaluations, and psych testing and more. That intrigued me. I thought: this is what I want to do.

What’s your career been like working for LA County?

I started my career here at Hawkins which was a great venue to explore my passion for serving underserved communities of color. I had strong mentorship and the staff here liked my work and asked me to stay on — and the rest is history. Before I was even licensed as a psychologist, I had the opportunity to take part in the Harbor UCLA Postdoc. My first supervisor suggested I apply. He said: you like psychological testing, you should go for this. The department only offers two positions each round and I was honored to be one of them, and it came with a salary and benefits. 

After completing my postdoc, I came back here to Hawkins to practice as a licensed clinical psychologist. I was on the line staff for 10 years, doing training, and, of course, seeing individuals for therapy, group therapy, case management and rehabilitative services. I brought a lot of the training approach from Harbor UCLA here to Hawkins. I’ve been heavily involved with the supervision of students. We try to create a learning environment for them where they can experience things that are not always like they are in the textbooks and learn how to adapt in an ethical and professional manner when they encounter them. I’m also committed to creating pathways for therapists with a heart for serving underserved communities. 

Seven years ago, I was promoted to supervisor and now I oversee a team of social workers, psychologists, and community workers to ensure we deliver high-quality care to our clients.

Yoshado
Yoshado

Why is it so important to bring more people from the community into this work?

When clients come into the clinic, it’s important they see someone they can relate to, maybe someone they recognize from the neighborhood, maybe even someone who looks like them. Not only that, coming from the community means you’re better able to take cultural contexts into account when delivering care. 

We can’t be quick to pathologize individuals. We need to remember our clients may be operating in and reacting to an environment that isn’t supportive of them. Our job as psychologists is to help them find ways to better cope within those environments. It’s well documented that when cultural issues aren’t taken into account, people of color in particular are often misdiagnosed. They may have a mood disorder but they get mislabeled with a schizophrenia diagnosis. 

Right now, there just aren’t enough therapists and clinicians of color to support the need. Mental health has been in the background for so long and recent events, like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, have brought things to the forefront. Identifying and supporting people who have a heart to work with our population is so important. I can’t do this work alone; it takes a village.

Do you have a philosophy of how you approach care? 

I believe customer service is foundational, it’s like the golden rule: treat others the way you would want to be treated. Just because we’re the county doesn’t mean we deliver second class service.  When people walk into that triage, we want to greet them, to make them feel comfortable, to make sure they’re attended to, and that they don’t have to wait too long to be served. It’s not easy to come into a clinic and admit that you have an ailment or that something is off. 

It’s also important for us to be visible and accessible, to be out in the community. For so long, there’s been a stigma around mental health. Everyone needs someone to talk to. Everyone needs a safe place to be themselves.

Why should someone consider working for LA County or at Hawkins?

Hawkins is the place to be if you have a desire to work with an underserved population with high needs. We have a diverse team of social workers, psychologists, LMFTs, and we take a non-hierarchical approach. We know the case manager knows some things, the therapist knows other things, the psychiatrist has insights too. Everyone’s role is important. We work closely with clinicians to ensure the caseloads don’t get unmanageable, that they have support they need to deliver quality care. 

We also pride ourselves on training. We make sure you’re always growing professionally, and clinically, and learning new techniques in order to best serve our clients. 

Can you picture yourself as a Psychologist at LACDMH?

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