2023 Mental Health Forum

About this Event

In a collaborative effort to address the pressing mental health challenges affecting our community, FundaMental Change and Mission Community Hospital recently orchestrated the impactful 2023 Mental Health Forum. The event, held with the mission of fostering positive change, featured thought-provoking panel discussions that honed in on brainstorming potential policy solutions. Distinguished guests and esteemed panelists included the honorable U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, who delivered compelling keynote remarks on his passion to improve mental health access and support within the US Senate, and recently announced Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus.

The heart of the forum lay in the exploration of policies, with a keen focus on those introduced by federal, state, and local legislators. From U.S. Congressman Tony Cárdenas; CA State Senator Caroline Menjivar, MSW, to California State Assemblywoman Luz Rivas, Los Angeles City Councilmember Imelda Padilla, and LAUSD’s Joel Cisneros, LCSW, the panelists examined the policies in place and those in the pipeline that aim to reshape the landscape of mental health support.

Our guest speaker of the forum, Heather Wokusch, M.A., Founder & CEO of ELEARN.WORKS., came to us all the way from Austria, to speak on Tackling Trauma: The Nexus of Mental Health and Policy. 

Further enriching the discourse were Debra Manners, LCSW, President & CEO of Sycamores, Tania Fallert-Del Gatto, MA, LMFT, Associate Director of El Centro de Amistad, and Veronica Lewis, MPA, Director of HOPICS, Sr. Health Deputy Angelica Ayala, and Maryjane Puffer, Executive Director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health, contributing valuable insights from the healthcare sector, and also providing a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in the mental health landscape.

The 2023 Mental Health Forum stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment to finding meaningful solutions. By bringing together policymakers, professionals, and advocates, the event has paved the way for a more robust, integrated approach to mental health support in our community. As we reflect on the discussions and insights shared, we look forward to translating these conversations into actionable change for the well-being of all.

Together, let us break down barriers and build a healthier future.