When Helen Allegra moved to Southern California from Colorado, she wasn’t aware of the resources available in this state for helping people with a brain injury.
She learned life skills after discovering the Independent Living Center of Southern California in Van Nuys.
“I needed help with every factor of life in terms of organizing, how to better secure myself, especially on higher brain days, especially if I am stuck in bed all day,” she said in a video interview. The ILC gave her skills that helped her gain back her independence.
For many who are disabled, or aging and need support, or even for caretakers who don’t know where to turn, centers like this one and others are a godsend. Unfortunately, many people don’t know about them or that they even exist. Many get the runaround from L.A. County offices or nonprofits who don’t know how to properly connect them.
The Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department (ADD) is trying to change that. The ADD became California’s designated Aging and Disability Resource Connection — or ADRC — in an effort to make it easier for disabled and older adults, caregivers and families to find services and support.
“Too often, people are referred from one organization to another, unsure where to turn next or whether they’ll ever reach the help they need,” said the county’s ADD on Thursday, as it announced the new ARDC agency.
“By bringing together aging, disability, information and referral, and independent living organizations under one coordinated system, the ADRC helps reduce the ‘runaround’ by connecting residents with the right resources through coordinated support and ‘warm handoffs,’ ” the county reported.
As of July 1, the county department’s new network includes working together with the city of Los Angeles Community Investment Department, 211 LA, and six independent living centers across the county in one-stop, coordinated network. No matter which agency a person calls, each will know how to get them services.
The city’s CID is a recent consolidation of four city departments: Youth Development Department, Economic and Workforce Development Department, Department of Aging and the Community Investment for Families Department.
The city of L.A.’s consolidation of four departments into one, plus the linkage with the county and nonprofit providers is designed to make it easier for people to find resources, instead of calling a bunch of individual departments.
“It shouldn’t be that hard to find help. That’s exactly why the ADRC exists,” said Maral Karaccusian, director of the L.A. County Aging & Disabilities Department (ADD). “Instead of sending people from one organization to another, our partners work together to help people reach the right services through a coordinated ‘No Wrong Door’ approach.’ “
Testimonials from clients of the six networked independent living centers spoke of not knowing how to find basic services, especially after a life-changing injury.
Charles Kremus found the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Long Beach soon after his accident left him in a wheelchair.
“I came in here and they gave me a pep talk because I was clinically depressed,” he said in a video. “They hooked me up with Social Security, food stamps and even with a program that paid my electric bill.”
Besides the centers in Long Beach and Van Nuys, the six linked within the network include: Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF) in Los Angeles; California Resource Services for Independent Living (CRS-IL) in Downey; Disability Community Resource Center (DCRC) in Venice and Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL) in Claremont.
“Whether someone needs help with housing, transportation, caregiving benefits, independent living services, or long-term supports, they can start with any ADRC partner and get that help,” said Jennifer Kumiyama, DRC executive director in Long Beach.
The new network was sanctioned by California Department of Aging (CDA), and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).