Los Angeles County Client Coalition, Inc.
LACCC is an Association of current or former Mental Health Clients/Consumers/Survivors
who carry the message of Hope, Recovery, Wellness and Self-Determination
to its Peers and Communities, including the Mental Health Community, through its Advocacy efforts.GENERAL MEETINGS WILL BE on Last Fridays from 3 to 4:30pm Pacific
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RECOVERY-
The Los Angeles County Client Coalition, Inc. supports the transformation of the system of care in Los Angeles from a medical model to a recovery model. This is based on the fact that research has shown that persons diagnosed with mental illness can recover.Recovery, in the mental health context, is different than that described in the substance-abuse arena which is based on abstinence from abused substances. We see recovery in mental health as a path rather than a destiny, which allows anyone who is going forward most of the time but who may take occasional detours to be considered “in recovery.” It is a dynamic concept–one of movement. Those movements don’t have to be big movements. Just like any goal, one must take steps toward achieving the goal. Those steps can take many shapes. Someone who is “working on their recovery” can be seen attending self-help activities, enjoying social/cultural activities, doing something meaningful (to them) with their lives, and is possibly still in treatment.
ADVOCACY-
Mental health client/consumer advocacy is a recognized self-help modality. It is also called “social action.” Persons diagnosed with mental illness who advocate for other mental health client/consumers are representing those of their peers who are not at a particular meeting or event. They are knowledgeable about the issues which are important to the quality of life of their peers. These include legislation, cultural issues, and general life issues such as government entitlements, housing, work, social life, education, etc.One of the best ways for mental health client/consumers to get involved in advocacy is for them to attend meetings of the Los Angeles County Client Coalition (LACCC), Inc. or its chapters. These monthly meetings provide opportunities to network with other advocates and discuss the “hot button” issues. They can do other advocacy work such as attending and speaking up at the Mental Health Services’ Act public hearings, work groups, or forums. Other meetings are the Service Area Advisory Councils where they live. They can use their voice to effect change in the Mental Health System.Clients/consumers who become interested in advocacy and get involved in the LACCC, Inc, can receive stipends from attending & speaking at meetings through the Countywide Activity Fund (CAF). They can attend local & other mental health conferences with a full scholarship. They have valuable experiences and learn transferable skills which can prepare them for work in the mental health field, if that is their desire. They can become LACCC Officers & Committee Chairs to work on and learn or brush up on leadership and speaking skills.If you are looking for a new experience and want to enhance your recovery, then we encourage you to check into the possibilities of mental health client/consumer advocacy with the LACCC, Inc.
MEETINGS
LAST FRIDAYS
3-4:30PM Pacific
April 26, 2024 3-4:30pm Pacific
Zoom ONLINE ONLY
May 31, 2024 3-4:30pm Pacific
Zoom In Person/ Hybrid
Membership
Any past or present mental health client, consumer, or survivor can become a regular member of LACCC by attending the monthly meetings which are held on the FIRST FRIDAYS of each month.
LACCC is in the process of reregistering its nonprofit status, and is enlisting support from its members.General meeting dates changed from Third Fridays to third Wednesdays to Fourth Thursdays to First Fridays in order to accomodate our group member schedules.
All meetings will remain on Zoom until at least two consecutive meetings have stayed on the same day of the week with at enough members (min 3-4) to represent the group and record minutes for the meeting.
All meetings are tentative until final emails with agenda have been sent out and confirmed. General meetings are held each month on zoom. Every other month will be a hybrid meeting (both in person downtown and online at zoom). Apologies in advance for any unforeseen problems with scheduling.Our CALIF location is at:
634 South Spring Street, Mezz. Lvl.
Los Angeles, CA 90014By Bus: LA Metro Line #18 stops at 6th and Spring. Walk towards 7th Street or Turn Right & walk on the left side of the street…634 is past “The Falls Restaurant & the fire hydrantBy Car: Parking is available in lot next to the Building just past 634 on the left side of the street. You may want to carpool with someone who has gone before to learn how to park for free. Feel free to email or call Pam Inaba from the link below.Hybrid: If you cannot join in person, please try our zoom link. We make every effort in making participation possible for those who cannot travel. Please click the zoom link below, click here, or from the image right.Please also don't forget to RSVP by registering in advance on EventBrite where you may be entered to win a free online greeting card.
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| Platform | ZOOM Function | Click | These HotKeys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Computer | Raise hand or Lower Hand | ALT | + Y |
| Personal Computer | Mute or UnMute | ALT | +A |
| Mac | Raise Hand/ Lower Hand | OPT+ | SHIFT+Y |
| Mac | Mute or UnMute | OPT+ | SHIFT+Y |
| Phone | Raise Hand/ Lower Hand | *9 | (Star Nine) |
| Phone | Mute or Unmute | *6 | (Star Six) |
Join Pam's Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 835 7113 8724
Passcode: 1309
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,83571138724#,,,,*1309# US
+12532158782,,83571138724#,,,,*1309# US (Tacoma)
General Meetings
Held on Last FRIDAYs (as of 3/2024)
General Meetings are an open invitation to all who want to be part of the consumer movement.All meetings are tentative until final emails with agenda have been sent out & confirmed.*Please note that there is a survey and we will be changing our general meeting dates to best accomodate people's schedules.
Sorry for any inconvenience.Use the links below to go to the zoom session or download the latest agenda/ minutes.
Fourth Fridays of the Month Online on Zoom or Hybrid
3pm - 4:30 pm Pacific
Next Meetings
April 26, 2024
(Online Meeting)
FRI 3pm to 4:30pm Pacific on ZoomMay 31, 2024
(Hybrid Meeting)
3pm to 4:30pm Pacific In Person & Zoom
Executive Board Members
Elizabeth Dandino,
Chief Executive Officer
Betty Dandino has been the President of LACCC, Inc. for many years. She also has contributed to Pacific Clinics and many other mental health organized events.
Kathy Diradoorian,
Peer Advocacy Chair
Kathy is our peer advocacy chair who helps connect us to peer advocacy related resources.
Pamela Inaba,
Chair Emeritus/
Resiliency Chair
Pam was our President many years ago and now is the Resiliency chair.
She is a wealth of resources as an ACCESS ambassador and is also now our zoom host.
Zerita Jones,
Secretary
Zerita is a community leader who also helps document our meetings in addition to her contributions to the community with her work with the LA Tenant's Union
Brent Popham,
Treasurer
Brent is not only our treasurer, CFO, and Advocacy Chair, but was originally the host of our zoom sessions. He also participates in many self-help groups.
Sandra Cheng,
Information Specialist
Sandra supports LACCC with website design, technology support, and grant applications. She also helps lead Wildflowers' Movement support groups.
What the LACCC Does
Meets monthly for important mental health issues
Provides training information on Peer advocacy
Shares conferences & festivals that provide empowerment, advocacy, & diversity
Promotes client-run programs which reduce stigma and discrimination
Educates Peers on best practices for advocacy
Provides safe community socialization tools
Supports mental health needs with systems change interventions
Provides mental health social action & advocacy
Promotes recovery, wellness, hope, & self-determination
Combats stigma & discrimination for peers including people who have survived extraordinary experiences
Promotes diversity and cultural competence to support justice for people with disabilities
Informs peers of the LA County Department of Mental Health, its structure, and ways to get involved
Elects peers as officers, providing community leadership & learning opportunities
Advocates for empowerment & self-actualization
Informs Peers about political & social issues
Empowers Peers to become their best selves
Enhances self-esteem, builds confidence & models recovery to Peers by sharing life examples
Describes the history of the Peer recovery movement while encouraging others to become a part of it
Connects Peers with experienced Peer advocates who have helped shape & enhance the Peer recovery movement.
The Los Angeles County Client Coalition general meetings are held every month for 1.5 hours on Zoom, usually on the last Friday at 3pm Pacific time.
Common discussion topics
education
employment
housing
benefits
services
Peer support
Peers' rights
advocacy
legislation
Mental Health
ADVOCACY CAUSES
No budget cuts for Social Security
Medicare & Medi-Cal improvements
Food Stamps (EBT) for People on SSI
Better Health Care and Mental Health Treatment Options
More Client-driven Programs
More Client-run Organizations and funding opportunities
Transparency with ticket to work programs
consistent unbiased support for mental health communities without conflating it with homelessness, forensic, or addiction issues
Collaborative Client-Run Programs
BACUP (The Benefits Assistance Clients Urban Project)
MHALA (Mental Health America of Los Angeles)
Project Return
LELA (Lived Experience LA)
CALIF (Communities Actively Living & Free)
Wildflowers' Movement
Vision Statement
The Los Angeles County Client Coalition (LACCC), its affiliate BLACCC, and its chapters, including the Latino Coalition and Asian Coalition, are dedicated to championing diversity and inclusion to create a just society that embraces people with diverse abilities
Mission Statement
The Los Angeles County Client Coalition is an association of current or former mental health clients who carry the message of hope, recovery, wellness, and self-determination to our peers and to our communities, including the mental health community, through our advocacy efforts.
Current Strategic Goals
To promote recovery principles and practices for people receiving mental health services
To combat discrimination and foster social inclusion for ourselves and our peers
To network with other groups to improve the quality of life for people like ourselves
To increase membership and involvement through outreach and education
To develop a yearly budget and fundraising plan related to our goals
Revised Rules of Decorum
We treat peers with dignity, respect and courtesy. Personal and cultural diversity is an asset of the LACCC.
We listen with intent to understand and hear each peer’s side. Our strength as a membership organization Iies in our ability to listen constructively and work together. Differences of opinion are valued. We encourage individualism and creativity as well as collaboration and partnership.
We protect each other’s confidentiality.
We maintain a positive attitude and keep control.
We maintain a passionate attitude and are factual.
We raise concerns respectfully.
We take responsibility for our mood and give ourselves a 'personal-time-out'; when we feel anger, fear, or concern during a meeting, and it's not the time to express it to our peers, we leave the meeting until we feel better. We go back into the meeting after we feel better.
Most of us have been treated poorly by others at some time or another. Despite this we avoid personal attacks or name calling, sarcastic or demeaning remarks, and harassing or embarrassing behavior to our peers. We avoid misinterpreting what our peers mean in a negative way.
Respectful, calm and friendly behavior is accepted by our peers.
We show empathy and compassion for our peers.
We compromise with peers.
We take responsibility for our behavior and actions and are willing to apologize. When necessary, we write a letter of apology or give a verbal apology within two weeks of the incident.
We keep a sense of humor.
We don't allow crosstalk. When necessary, peers step outside the meeting to have an important timely discussion.
We don't allow disruptions in meetings; we place our cell phones or other electronic devices on the ‘vibrate’ or ‘silent' mode during meetings.
If you are online with us by phone, please use *9 to raise your hand on zoom, and *6 to unmute and mute again when you aren't speaking. This may be essential if you are in a noisy place.
If it is requested that we leave a meeting by leadership, we do so agreeably, speedily, and quietly.
Principles before personalities!
In Person Meetings LOCATION- CALIF
Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF)
634 South Spring Street, Mezz. Lvl.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
By Bus: LA Metro Line #18 stops at 6th and Spring.
Walk towards 7th Street or Turn Right
& walk on the left side of the street.
CALIF is South past The Falls Restaurant & the fire hydrant
By Car: Parking is available in Joe's Auto Parks lot
adjacent to the building.
Across the street is a similar Joe's Auto Parks lot that will also do.
You may want to carpool with someone who has gone before
to learn how to park more conveniently.
Feel free to email or call us to ask who can.
PARKING at CALIF:
Spring is a 1-way street, so go South on Spring from 6th to 634 S Spring on the left side past the building with blue striped awnings (which is labeled “City Lofts”). Enter the first driveway adjacent to the old building. (You should not have to cross the street.)
You will be paying for your own parking. However, if you or your employer (ie. as a mental health peer advocate) are able to deduct this fee for your taxes, you may want to keep your receipts
either from the machine or from the app
through your credit cards for the taxable year.The closest Parking lot is called Joe’s Auto Parks with an automated machine.
A parking attendant may come by to ask you about your ticket vouchers and permit. If not, simply wait until a parking space opens up, park in a valid space once it does. Usually someone will relinquish a space within ten to fifteen minutes if you can wait. There are two Joe's Auto Parks lots, one very close that's adjacent to the building and one a little bit further south on the opposite side of Spring street. Both will cost about $12.35 for parking in either of those lots for most of the day.Alternatively you can park using this helpful website Spot Angels that will allow you to find cheap (sometimes free) parking spots which are reported by locals in the city. Please note that most of these spots will involve a lot of scouting, so you may want to plan to arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes early to find those spots.
SpotAngels tends to be easier to work with online from a computer than it is from phone because of all the pop up ads that force you to purchase it.Enter the 634 Building and tell the Guy at the Counter you are going to CALIF (pronounced KAL-LAIF).Take the elevator to the 2nd Floor and enter the open office door.
Tell the Receptionist you are going to the LACCC Meeting and Sign in.
Go to the back of the office to the CALIF Conference Room which may be on the Mezzanine level.
Resources
Here are some resources and community support groups. More will be presented at each general meeting.
This is our Community Event Calendar (below).
LACCC, Inc. Executive Board Meeting
Executive Board Meetings Biweekly as needed
5 pm to 7pm PDT
NEXT Executive Board Meetings:
Next Meeting TBA
Subscribe to our Planning Committee Calendar
PAST Executive Board Meetings:
Monday Jan 22nd, 2024 12pm to 2pm Pacific
Board Meeting AgendaFRIDAY December 8th, 2023 3pm Annual Report Meeting
Tuesday August 1, 2023
6:00pm to 7:00pm (Bylaws) AgendaMonday July 17, 2 - 4:30PM
Thursday June 22, 4:30-6:30
June 8th, 4:30-7:30
Tuesday May 30, 4-7
Sat May 27, 3pm?
Tuesday May 23, 6-8
April 29th 3-4:30pm
April 10th 11am-1pm
May 5th 2022 1:30-2:30pm
29 Nov 2020, Sun 2-4pm
Please note these meetings are for Board Members & by invitation only. Thank you!
The agenda will let you know which zoom link we will need if you are on the Executive Board.If you are not, you may not be able to open the agenda. Please contact us at thelaccc@gmail.com if you believe you should have access to this agenda,
or if you want to be part of our board.Join Pam's Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 835 7113 8724
Passcode: 1309
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,83571138724#,,,,1309# US
+12532158782,,83571138724#,,,,1309# US (Tacoma)
Brent Popham is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Topic: Brent Popham's Personal Meeting RoomJoin Zoom MeetingMeeting ID: 673 445 2106
Passcode: 998683
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+16699006833,,6734452106#,,,,998683# US (San Jose)
Got Technical difficulties?
Text Sandra at 323.393.3123
Privacy Policy
Website Privacy Statement for Los Angeles County Client Coalition, Inc.
(Latest revision: June 2022)The LACCC, Inc. is committed to protecting the privacy and accuracy of confidential information to the extent possible, subject to provisions of state and federal law. Other than as required by laws that guarantee public access to certain types of information, or in response to subpoenas or other legal instruments that authorize access, personally-identifiable information is not actively shared. In particular, we do not re-distribute or sell personal information collected on our web servers.Information Collected
The LACCC web servers collect the following information: Internet Protocol (IP) address of computer being used; web pages requested; referring web page; browser used; date and time; and statistics identifying particular IP addresses from which our websites are accessed. LACCC does not associate this data to individual user identities.In addition to the IP address/browser information collected from anonymous visitors to the site, other information is collected and stored when users log in to view restricted content or submit forms. Specifically, the following information is collected from each user and mapped to a locally created account:LACCC Display Name (usually first and last name as: First LAST)LACCCC directory email address
The security website is not intended to handle confidential information. If you need to discuss a confidential matter, refer to the Executive Board to contact any of us directly.Use of Cookies for Analytics
Our website uses a third-party analytics provider (Google Analytics) to help us understand how visitors use our site. We use this information to improve our content and your experience visiting our site. Google Analytics relies on cookies to produce this information. Google Analytics does not receive personally identifiable information through these cookies and is prohibited from combining, matching or cross-referencing information from our site with any other information. We have also opted not to have Google Analytics storability to see your full IP address (a feature known as “IP masking”). Please review Google Analytics’ privacy policy(link is external) for additional information. It is also possible to opt-out of Google Analytics(link is external) for those who wish to do so.Although our website has enabled settings to respect “Do-not-track” requests sent by users who wish to opt-out of Google Analytics tracking(link is external), our site also makes use of page caching to improve site performance. Therefore, you will get the generic (anonymous user) version of each page, which will include Google Analytics tracking code and JavaScript even if you send “Do-not-track” requests. However, Google also provides tools for those who wish to opt out of Google Analytics(link is external), which will function whether or not you are logged into the site.Use of Collected Information
LACCC will use personal information collected from this site for the purpose of communication back to individuals who contact us via the site and additionally:LACCC uses browser-IP-address information and anonymous-browser history to report information about site accesses and to determine the popularity and effectiveness of content campaigns and placement. This information is used to improve Web presentation and utilization. IP address information may also be used for troubleshooting purposes.The user information collected by LACCC is used to identify users accessing secure content, and to pre-fill forms with information about the user submitting the form.Distribution of Collected Information
We will not disclose, without your consent, personal information collected about you, except for certain explicit circumstances in which disclosure is required by law.We will not distribute or sell personal information to third-party organizations.Access to your own information: Questions regarding users’ rights to review, modify or delete their previously provided personal information should be directed to laccc.inc@lacclientcoalition.org. Any disputes will be resolved under existing records regulations applicable to LACCC.Additional Information
For more detailed information about requirements for LACCC general meetings, online activities see the LACCC Policy section on Privacy and Confidentiality of Information (coming soon).Responsibility for External Sites
While using the LACCC website, you may encounter hypertext links to the Web pages of other mental health related websites or organizations not directly affiliated with LACCC. LACCC, Inc. does not control the content or information practices of external organizations. We recommend you review the privacy statements of these organizations.
Contact the LACCC, inc.
You may also call or text us at 323.393.3123 esp for tech support or call 310.701.0292 for peer support
or email us at TheLACCC@gmail.comFill out the form below to sign up for our monthly newsletter, resources, and reminder for our general meetings.
Monthly Newsletters
We currently use MailerLite sent from laccc.inc@lacclientcoalition.org
We will typically not email General members more than three emails per month.
Executive Board Members may receive more.NEW! We are sharing reminders via "text" for those who opt in.
One text will be sent prior to the start of group.
Please indicate in an email that you would like to be included with your preferred phone number or text us with "LACCC txts".
Thank you!
Anyone may unsubscribe from our list by request.
We respect your privacy.