Impact Stories
Inside Our Programs
AltaMed Launches the Restoring Balance and Building Resiliency Through Wellness Program
AltaMed is expanding access to mental health care across the San Gabriel Valley through its new initiative, Balance. The program is designed to support more than 2,500 individuals impacted by the Eaton wildfire and address the growing need for behavioral health services.
Integrated into AltaMed’s existing primary care sites, the program will increase access to trauma-informed care, reduce wait times for behavioral health services, and provide culturally responsive support for individuals and families. Services will address a range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions that can affect overall health and well-being.
The Balance program has received philanthropic support from L.A. Care Health Plan; BMO; Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County; Ann Peppers Foundation; Mr. Cástulo de la Rocha, JD; Pasadena Community Foundation; and Epic Systems Corporation.
Our role is to help patients as they come in and place them in the appropriate care to make sure that they get the mental health support to uplift their family and to move their community and themselves forward.
Sharlene Risdon-Jackson
AltaMed Foundation Vice President
One area of growing concern is substance use, particularly in the wake of the January 2025 wildfires in the San Gabriel Valley. Research has consistently shown that natural disasters and other traumatic events can lead to higher rates of substance use and relapse as individuals cope with stress, grief, and displacement. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), up to 25% of people exposed to disasters report increased alcohol or drug use in the months that follow. For those already living with substance use disorder, the effects of trauma and prolonged stress can intensify cravings, trigger relapse, or contribute to the development of new substance use disorders.
25%
People exposed to disasters report increased alcohol or drug use, according to SAMHSA
7
Philanthropic partners supporting the Balance program
We know that Latinos prefer one-to-one interaction, and we have health workers and clinicians, many of whom have Latino backgrounds and are fluent Spanish speakers. These are the things that have gained us that trust from the community.
Sharlene Risdon-Jackson
Prioritizing Timely Care
The Balance program is designed to get patients connected to care faster by significantly reducing wait times for behavioral health services. Patients will have immediate access to a dedicated licensed social worker for psychosocial intake, reducing follow-up appointment wait times from 10–15 days to just three to five days. By accelerating access to support, the program helps ease anxiety, addresses concerns before they escalate, and reduces unnecessary emergency room visits.
A Long-Term Investment in Behavioral Health Care
The launch represents a major investment in AltaMed’s behavioral health services, adding three licensed clinical social workers, two substance use disorder counselors, and ten graduate interns from local universities. The model pairs one-on-one clinical care from licensed clinicians with specialized group therapy led by graduate interns.
By expanding our team with dedicated substance use disorder counselors, AltaMed is better positioned to provide timely screening, intervention, counseling, and recovery support to patients who may be impacted by these stressors.
Behavioral health services play a critical role in helping individuals recover from trauma and reducing the risk of substance use. These approaches focus on shifting attitudes, building resilience, and teaching practical coping strategies that reduce risk and support long-term recovery. Medical treatment is only part of the solution — people need a full spectrum of evidence-based behavioral health supports to rebuild their lives after trauma and reduce the risk of substance-related harm.
The Balance program builds upon AltaMed’s comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services, which addresses the needs of children, adults, and seniors. These programs include individual and group counseling for individuals navigating substance use disorders, integrated behavioral health services embedded within primary care clinics, and school-based mental health programs that bring support directly to students in their learning environments. AltaMed also offers specialized programming for older adults through its Aging Healthy Program, which helps seniors address challenges such as memory concerns, social isolation, and substance use risk.
A Long Road to Recovery
In the days following the Eaton Fire, AltaMed mobilized quickly to provide triage medical care at the Pasadena Convention Center, refill critical prescriptions, and ensure families had access to essential health services. AltaMed also established the Fire Relief Fund to help families begin rebuilding.
Over the past year, AltaMed has continued working alongside community and philanthropic partners to support the long road to recovery, including conducting community assessments to better understand evolving needs and ensure resources are reaching those most affected.
