Generic Resources

California Children’s Services (CCS) is a state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. Through this program, children up to 21 years old can get the health care and services they need. CCS will connect you with doctors and trained health care people who know how to care for your child with special health care needs.

Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) assists parents, child care professionals, employers, and local communities in all matters related to early care and education.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) directly operates more than 80 programs and contracts with more than 700 providers, including non-governmental agencies and individual practitioners who provide a spectrum of mental health services to people of all ages to support hope, wellness and recovery.

Mental health services provided include assessments, case management, crisis intervention, medication support, peer support and other rehabilitative services. Services are provided in multiple settings including residential facilities, clinics, schools, hospitals, county jails, juvenile halls and camps, mental health courts, board and care homes, in the field and in people’s homes. Special emphasis is placed on addressing co-occurring mental health disorders and other health problems such as addiction.

The Department also provides counseling to victims of natural or manmade disasters, their families and emergency first responders. The Director of Mental Health is responsible for protecting patients’ rights in all public and private hospitals and programs providing voluntary mental health care and treatment, and all contracted community-based programs. The Director also serves as the public guardian for individuals gravely disabled by mental illness, and is the conservatorship investigation officer for the County.

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) provides consultation, counseling and vocational rehabilitation, and works with community partners to assist the consumers that they serve.

Head Start/Early Head Start is a federally funded child development program for very low-income young children and their families. Since its inception in 1965, more than 20 million children and families nationally have benefited from Head Start’s comprehensive services. Statewide, this number is estimated to be in excess of 1,000,000 children and families. The primary target population for Project Head Start/Early Head Start is children between the ages of 0-5 and pregnant women from families living below the federal poverty line. Head Start/Early Head Start programs are funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services directly to local community agencies.

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program helps pay for services provided to eligible persons who are 65 years of age or over, or legally blind, or disabled adults and children, so they can remain safely in their own homes. IHSS is considered an alternative to out-of-home care such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.

The Independent Living Center of Southern California (ILCSC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) consumer-based, non-residential agency providing a wide range of services to a growing population of people with disabilities and seniors. The ILCSC is dedicated to providing the services which will offer persons with disabilities and seniors the opportunity to seek an individual course towards independence – while educating the community.

A number of documents and web sites assist the public in identifying available County services and how to access those services, including the Citizens Guide to Services and online Directory of Services with its complete list of all County programs and services.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid health care program. This program pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources. Medi-Cal is supported by federal and state taxes. You can apply for Medi-Cal benefits regardless of sex, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status. If you are found (or determined) eligible, you can get Medi-Cal as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.