SHIELDS for Families is a community-based 501c3 non-profit organization located in South Los Angeles serving individuals, children, and families through comprehensive and collaborative social services for child and youth development, child welfare, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and supportive services such as food, transportation, housing, legal services, and educational and vocational training.
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Services Offered
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
Assessment Services
SHIELDS provides individuals seeking treatment for alcohol and drug treatment, mental health and/or domestic violence services with screening, clinical assessment, treatment matching and linkage to services.
* Community Assessment Services Center (CASC): The CASC provides comprehensive assessments to individuals of any age in order to refer them to appropriate resources and services that meet their specific needs within SHIELDS and/or other community based organizations.
* Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT): SHIELDS' MAT is part of a collaborative effort to ensure the immediate and comprehensive assessment of children and youth under the jurisdiction of Child Welfare Services for the reunification of the family unit.
* Co-located Assessment Services Offered: SHIELDS' staff are located in the Compton Superior Court, Edelman Juvenile Dependency Court and the Compton office of the Department of Children and Family Services in order to facilitate access to behavioral health assessments as well as linkages to our programs and other local community-based organizations.
Substance Use Disorder Services
SHIELDS has offered a comprehensive continuum of substance abuse treatment services since inception in 1991. Our programs offer a full continuum of treatment modalities, including early intervention, outpatient, day treatment, Drug Court, residential long term treatment, and alcohol and drug free living centers. All modalities offer a range of services that include: individual, group and family counseling; educational classes on life skills, parenting, HIV/AIDS, alcohol and drugs, and health and nutrition; vocational training and job placement; basic skills and high school education; support and 12 step groups; individual therapy, group therapy on trauma, grief and loss, and domestic violence; relapse prevention and Lifetime Aftercare.
* Perinatal Programs: SHIELDS' Genesis program serves adult parenting women with children 0-18 residing in Service Planning Area (SPA) 6 who are struggling with substance use disorders.
* Outpatient Programs: SHIELDS' Ark program serves adults with substance abuse disorders who are part of the general outpatient, General Relief (GR), AB 109 prison re-entry, or Drug Court programs.
* Co-Occurring Programs: SHIELDS' Revelation program provide services to high-risk youth who present co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.
* Youth Programs: SHIELDS' Revelation program serves adolescents aged 12-20 who are experiencing both substance abuse and mental health disorders. Additionally, our Day Reporting Centers provide intensive outpatient mental health services to Probation-referred youth at local high schools.
* Criminal Justice Programs: SHIELDS operates two diversion programs - Drug Court and the Community Collaborative Court - specifically designed and staffed to supervise Superior Court-referred felons. Additionally, our Place of Family program provides DUI, Domestic Violence, and Anger Management services to individuals who are ordered to participate in diversion programs by the criminal justice or child welfare systems.
Mental Health Services
SHIELDS currently offers mental health services in the following four divisions: Adult, Children, Juvenile Justice and Youth. Our mental health programs utilize evidence-based practices such as TF-CBT, Seeking Safety, MST, FFT, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Services include assessments, individual, group and family therapy, medication support, crisis intervention, and case management.
Fees and Payment
This is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.