About the Nonprofit
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Established in 1958, the mission of the Mental Health Association of Orange County (MHA) is to improve the quality of life of underrepresented residents in Orange County impacted by mental illness through direct service, advocacy, education, and information dissemination. From its humble beginnings as a small, volunteer advocacy and referral agency, MHA has grown into one of the largest Orange County-based non-profit mental health and social services providers. Serving over 13,000 individuals per year, we provide a safety-net for vulnerable community members struggling with severe and persistent mental illness, stigma, and discrimination. Our programs serve extremely low-income residents, most of whom are uninsured or on MediCal.
Programs for the seriously and persistently mentally ill must be as multi-faceted as the people they assist. For this reason, MHA makes every attempt to offer a full continuum of care for consumers living with a mental health condition. We believe that the road to recovery begins on the streets, and progresses slowly towards stability, stopping many times along the way. If a client is to experience growth, we must be able to meet them at the intersection of their needs and abilities. This means that our services must be accessible, culturally competent, and sensitive to special needs.
We emphasize wellness rather than illness and currently operate the following programs:
• Three Mental Health Outpatient Recovery Centers
Mental health professionals provide primary mental health assessments, diagnosis, treatment, medication services, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and case management.
• Three Psychosocial Consumer Clubhouses
Designed and operated solely by mental health clients, the Clubhouses focus on the strength of individuals through social, recreational activities, education, and programs.
• Wellness and Peer Support Center
Provides peer-to-peer support and community integration, offering an array of groups, socialization activities and resources for program members.
• Homeless Mentally Ill Multi-Service Center
Provides critical basic needs and supportive services for chronically homeless individuals.
• Homeless Outreach Team
The outreach team locates, engages and provides linkage to the MHA Homeless Multi-Service Center and partner agencies for basic needs, medical care, and mental health treatment, including psychiatry.
• Homeless Veterans Outreach Team
Provides veterans with case management and linkage to services through the Veterans Administration (VA) and other service providers.
• Street Medicine Outreach
Provides access to primary and preventative healthcare services to the unhoused.
• Homeless Housing Services
Assists homeless individuals suffering from a mental illness transition out of homelessness and emergency shelters into permanent, independent housing.
• Back to Work Program for Homeless
Maximizes job placement and retention through various supportive services, pre and post placement activities and job coaching.
• Resource and Referral Services
This community service links callers to MHA programs and services, county mental health clinics, local service providers, psychiatric facilities, support groups, and other requested information.
• Hospital/Client Advocacy Services
Advocates fulfill a state-mandated role in explaining the hospital hearings and supporting patients through the process.
• SSI Benefits Outreach Team
Assists mental health clients unable to work due to mental illness through the application process for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and any/all subsequent follow-up needed for approval.
