A new report outlines the findings of a recent forum on integrating health, mental health, substance use, and housing services in Los Angeles communities convened by the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

The half-day gathering brought together faculty members from USC; University of California, Los Angeles; and nearby California State University campuses, in addition to social workers and professionals from local hospitals, health and mental health centers, housing programs and social services agencies.

Titled “Health Care for Los Angeles Communities: Integrating Health, Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Housing Services,” the forum focused on the status, challenges and goals of the Los Angeles County Health Agency, a newly created entity designed to unify the county’s departments of health services, mental health and public health.

“At stake are the lives of those who suffer from serious mental health and substance use problems,” said Suzanne Wenzel, the Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development, who co-chaired the event with Associate Professor Ann Marie Yamada. “These persons often die decades earlier than others because of physical illnesses that could have been prevented or treated through access to fundamental community supports, such as safe housing and proper navigation through a complex service system.”

The event aimed to place this transformative effort to promote integrated care in its historical context, update participants on local progress and facilitate academic and public sector collaboration. Furthermore, the presenters identified potential opportunities to overcome hurdles to the adoption of innovative and integrated services that incorporate sociocultural determinants of care.

Yamada said the event garnered an enthusiastic response from attendees and she is hopeful that it marks the beginning of an enhanced partnership between the new health agency and USC.

“Building opportunities for collaboration and learning may foster intellectual sharing of ideas, problem solving and evaluation efforts that ultimately improve community conditions underlying many of the health concerns affecting county residents,” she said. “Numerous benefits are possible from strengthening partnerships across stakeholder groups. These benefits could be even greater with commitment to a more durable and pervasive relationship between USC and the health agency.”

Featured speakers included Hortensia Amaro, associate vice provost for community research initiatives, Dean’s Professor of Social Work at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, and professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC; John Connolly, deputy director for policy, strategic planning and communications at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control; Roderick Shaner, medical director at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; and Marc H. Trotz, director of housing for health at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.