Family Caregiver Support Program Prevention and Early Intervention Project
2013 NACo Achievement Award Winner
Los Angeles County, Calif., CA
Best In Category
About the Program
Category: Human Services (Best in Category)
Year: 2013
The Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Project is a collaborative effort between two Los Angeles County Departments: the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Community and Senior Services (CSS). The purpose of the project is to administer and deliver Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention services countywide through a collaboration of CSS Family Caregiver Support Program service providers and DMH contracted mental health service providers. The target population is older adult caregivers age 55 years and older who experience mild to moderate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression and observed behaviors that indicate short-term mental health intervention may be needed. The goal is to attend to the special needs of these caregivers by improving their coping skills and providing connectedness to resources, as well as to decrease the risk factors for abuse, neglect, and out-of-home placement. During the first six months of this project, the FCSP PEI Project conducted 549 outreach activities which resulted in 125 consumers referred and linked to mental health services.