Northeast Wellness Center: Wellness is Everyone’s Business

About the Program

Category: Volunteers (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The staff of Los Angeles County's Northeast Wellness Center, in response to County and State budget cuts, was challenged to provide more mental health services with fewer resources. As a solution, 54 consumer/volunteers were recruited from the community to work side-by-side with the Northeast staff, averaging a total of 437.5 volunteer hours/per week (roughly the equivalent of 11 full-time employees), and saving the County Department of Mental Health an average of $513,030/year. This win-win situation integrated consumers into the community as self-assured, confident, and empowered individuals. Their success breeds continued success; because of this achievement, NWC was asked to impliment an Immersion Training Program for other Department of Mental Health Wellness Centers. This Immersion Training will save DMH nearly $150,000.