Mental Health America of Los Angeles

What Mental Health America of Los Angeles does

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity founded in 1924 and headquartered in Long Beach, California, providing integrated, wraparound behavioral health and social services across Los Angeles County. It operates 26 service sites serving approximately 14,534-19,000 individuals annually — primarily low-income adults with mental health needs, transition-age youth (ages 18-25), Veterans and their families, and individuals experiencing homelessness. The service mix spans mental health (psychotherapy, psychiatry, medication management), primary/physical health and street medicine, housing search and retention, employment and social enterprises (notably The Village Cookie Shoppe bakery), outreach, wellness programs, education, and targeted Veterans services, all delivered by multidisciplinary teams using a recovery-oriented, "meet members where they are" model.

The core product surface is service delivery rather than technology — there is no proprietary software platform, public API, or AI/ML capability disclosed; underlying technology is limited to standard HIPAA-/HUD-aligned operational systems (HMIS), communications infrastructure, and case-management tooling. Delivery channels include 26 physical Integrated Service Centers, street outreach teams, field-based Street Medicine clinicians, embedded staff inside Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center's emergency room (HealthLink), and partnerships with public housing developers. Training and credentialing products include Mental Health First Aid (Kaiser-funded) and a Cedars-Sinai-funded Wellness and Behavioral Health Specialist Certificate Program.

MHALA does not operate a fee-for-service revenue model and provides services at no cost to clients. Operating revenue is assembled from four streams: (1) government grants and contracts — primarily from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health — funding mental health, housing, TAY, and employment programs; (2) foundation grants (CommonSpirit Health Foundation, Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare's Empowering Health pooled grants); (3) individual and corporate donations, including proceeds from the annual Under the Toque gala; and (4) social-enterprise revenue from The Village Cookie Shoppe bakery. Headcount is approximately 400 staff across all locations, with 77% identifying as BIPOC and many bringing lived experience of the populations served.

Name

Mental Health America of Los Angeles

Legal name

Mental Health America of Los Angeles

Website

https://mhala.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1924, operating 26 service sites across LA County to deliver integrated mental-health, housing, employment, street-medicine, and Veterans services to roughly 14,500-19,000 low-income adults, transition-age youth, and individuals experiencing homelessness annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

Keywords

• Community mental health services
• Supportive housing programs
• Supported employment services
• Street medicine outreach
• Behavioral health training

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and other government entities to provide mental health services, housing programs, and employment services throughout LA County.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from healthcare foundations including CommonSpirit Health Foundation ($25,000 + $74,797 for HealthLink), Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation ($150,000 over 3 years), and Bob Woodruff Foundation for Veterans programs.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals and corporate sponsors for the Under the Toque gala and general operations.
4. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue from The Village Cookie Shoppe bakery and social enterprises providing job training while generating proceeds that support MHALA programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) is a nonprofit community mental health provider delivering an integrated, wraparound continuum of mental health, physical health, housing, employment, wellness, education, and outreach services to low-income adults, transition-age youth, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County. Services are delivered at no cost to clients through multidisciplinary teams at 26 sites, supplemented by training programs (Mental Health First Aid, Wellness and Behavioral Health Specialist Certification) and a social enterprise bakery (The Village Cookie Shoppe) that provides job training.

Product overview

Mental Health America of Los Angeles operates as a comprehensive mental health services organization offering an integrated, wraparound service model. The core offerings include Mental Health Services, Health Services, Street Medicine, Housing Services, Employment Program (including The Village Cookie Shoppe social enterprise), Outreach Services, Wellness Center, Transition Age Youth (TAY) Program, Veterans Services, and Education Services. Supporting these core services are training programs including Mental Health First Aid, Wellness and Behavioral Health Specialist Certification, and an Internship Program. The organization's integrated model meets individuals where they are, providing multidisciplinary team-based care across 26 sites in Los Angeles County including Long Beach, Antelope Valley, and Santa Clarita Valley.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mental Health Services Comprehensive mental health services including individual and group psychotherapy, psychiatric care, and medication management, provided as an integrated part of all MHALA programs by multidisciplinary teams serving low-income adults, transition-age youth, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
• Housing Services Comprehensive housing assistance from housing search through acquisition of housing subsidies to housing retention, including project-based units with onsite services and partnerships with housing developers across LA County.
• Employment Program Employment services including Employment Essentials, Community Internships, Social Enterprises, and Community Employment/Job Development, helping members with mental health needs secure jobs across various industries with 85%+ retention.
• Outreach Services Multidisciplinary outreach teams engaging individuals living on streets, in encampments, and public spaces to establish relationships and connect them to mental health, medical, housing, and other services throughout Los Angeles County.
• Street Medicine Field-based healthcare services delivered to individuals experiencing homelessness, including clinical health assessments, wound care, medication support, COVID-19 testing, and health navigation in partnership with Harbor Community Health Clinic.
• Wellness Center Supportive services including skills-building, psychotherapy, psychotropic medication services, physical health wellness, employment and educational support, and group workshops for individuals transitioning to less intense levels of care, including specialized neurodivergent services.
• Transition Age Youth (TAY) Program Services for young adults ages 18-25 with mental health needs who are homeless or nearly homeless, integrating housing, work/education, community life, and wellness with youth-specific strategies; includes the TAY Academy.
• Veterans Services Coordinated support for Veterans and their families including benefits assistance, housing counseling, mental health counseling, temporary financial assistance, and employment assistance, delivered through Military Resource Centers.
• Education Services Educational support including reading, writing, math, computer skills, high school equivalency programs, career coaching, and vocational training including ServSafe certification for MHALA members.
• Health Services Medical and physical health services including nursing care, health education, partnerships with local health centers and hospitals, psychiatric care, and substance abuse specialists.
• The Village Cookie Shoppe MHALA's social enterprise bakery providing job training and employment opportunities for members who were formerly incarcerated, homeless, or jobless as part of the Employment Program, also generating revenue to support MHALA programs.
• Mental Health First Aid Training Eight-hour Mental Health First Aid certification course providing skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis, modeled after CPR training, offered virtually in partnership with Kaiser Permanente.
• Wellness and Behavioral Health Specialist Certificate Program Free six-week certification program for those wanting to work as Behavioral Health Specialists, providing education on an integrated wellness model incorporating mental and physical health, funded by a Cedars-Sinai grant.
• HealthLink Partnership with Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach where MHALA's HealthLink team is stationed in the emergency room to coordinate care for individuals with mental health challenges, connecting them to case management, mental health services, primary healthcare, substance abuse services, and permanent supportive housing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,534 individuals served annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership for HealthLink program - MHALA team stationed in St. Mary Medical Center emergency room to coordinate care for individuals with mental health challenges, connecting them to ongoing case management, mental health services, primary healthcare, substance abuse services, and permanent supportive housing. Extended through CommonSpirit Health grant.
• Cedars-SinaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant funding for Wellness and Behavioral Health Specialist Certificate Program through Cedars-Sinai philanthropy; additional grant support for neurodivergent condition services totaling $25,000
• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mental Health First Aid trainings through Kaiser Permanente Southern California Fund for Charitable Contributions; funding for Veterans program; sponsor of Golden Bell Awards
• California State University Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for internships; MHALA CEO recognized through CSULB connections; Patti LaPlace from CSULB serves on Board of Directors
• University Partnership for InternshipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with California Baptist University, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Cerritos Community College, Pacific Oaks College, Regis College, and USC for student internships in social work, human services, occupational therapy, and marriage and family therapy
• Century HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing developer partnership providing project-based housing units for MHALA members across LA County
• Meta Housing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing developer partnership providing housing opportunities for MHALA members
• Linc HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing developer partnership providing affordable housing options for members
• Harbor Community Health CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Department of Health Services providing street medicine services with doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses delivering healthcare to individuals experiencing homelessness
• TCC Family HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's clinic partnership for family health services
• High Desert Medical GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership serving Antelope Valley area
• Pacific GatewayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partnership for employment services
• The LGBTQ CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership serving LGBTQ+ community members
• BetterHelpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 6lack for World Mental Health Day providing access to therapy services for BIPOC communities
• National Council for Mental WellbeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership for advocacy at federal, state, and county levels; Mental Health First Aid certification through this partnership
• Mental Health America (national)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization for federal, state, and county advocacy initiatives; part of national network for mental health advocacy
• California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies (CBHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level advocacy partnership for community behavioral health agencies
• Association of Community Human Service Agencies (ACHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState and local level advocacy partnership for human service agencies
• National Taiwan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange - clinicians from National Taiwan University visited MHALA to learn about community-based mental health services
• Downtown Long Beach AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor for Under the Toque 2026 gala; community partnership

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: A large LA County-based nonprofit providing mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use services. Directly comparable to MHALA as a community mental health nonprofit operating outpatient, crisis, and school-based programs in the same geography and funder ecosystem.
• Pacific Clinics: One of the largest behavioral health nonprofits in California, serving LA County and other regions with mental health, housing, and early childhood services. Comparable to MHALA in service mix and target populations but operating at materially greater scale.
• Exodus Recovery: California-based nonprofit operating mental health and substance use treatment programs including outpatient, residential, and crisis services. Comparable to MHALA in LA County footprint, public-funder reliance, and integrated behavioral health model.
• Tarzana Treatment Centers: LA County-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, HIV/AIDS, and primary care services with multiple integrated service centers. Comparable to MHALA in wraparound service model and LA County government contracting.
• Stars Behavioral Health Group: California nonprofit operating mental health, social services, and wraparound programs for vulnerable populations, including TAY. Comparable to MHALA in target populations, county contracts, and community-based delivery.
• The Help Group: LA-based nonprofit serving children, adolescents, and young adults with autism, learning differences, and emotional/behavioral challenges. Comparable to MHALA's TAY and neurodivergent service lines in the same LA County market.
• LA Family Housing: LA County-focused nonprofit providing housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Comparable to MHALA's housing, outreach, and supportive services components and shared LAHSA/Coordinated Entry System funder relationships.
• Chrysalis: LA-based nonprofit providing job readiness, employment, and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness, formerly incarcerated, and low-income. Directly comparable to MHALA's Employment Program and Village Cookie Shoppe social enterprise model.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health America (National): The national parent affiliate organization of MHALA and similar affiliates across the country. Comparable as the federal/state advocacy and training backbone for the Mental Health America affiliate network in which MHALA operates.

Regional players

• College Medical Center / College Hospital: Long Beach-based behavioral health hospital system providing psychiatric acute care and outpatient services in the same regional market as MHALA. Comparable as an LA County-adjacent behavioral health provider serving overlapping populations, though operating a facility-based rather than community-based model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MHA_Los_Angeles
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMFLORGKnv8u2US6N-GJUqQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/MentalHealthAmericaofLosAngeles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mentalhealthamericaoflosangeles
• Instagraminstagram.com/mha_los_angeles

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mental Health America of Los Angeles