Dear Tri-City Clients, Stakeholders, and Three Cities’ Residents:

As the Mental Health Authority for the cities of Claremont, La Verne and Pomona, it is Tri-City’s mission and privilege to provide mental health and co-occurring disorder services to those most under-resourced in our communities. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tri-City has focused intentionally to ensure that its services, and the delivery of them, has continued to meet the communities’ behavioral health needs while also maintaining safety for the physical well-being of consumers, clients, and staff.

Tri-City Mental Health Authority thanks you for your trust, patience and partnership during this time. We are working diligently every day to adjust to the various challenges facing the three cities’ communities and the operations of our system of care. We are implementing creative and collaborative ways to transform Tri-City’s service delivery which we believe will effectively meet the region’s growing behavioral health needs beyond the impact of COVID-19.

All of us (the region’s residents and Tri-City staff alike) have been faced with unprecedented life challenges these past 21 months. Unexpected life changes such as changing roles and duties in many areas of our lives, economic instability, managing chronic uncertainty, and experiences of grief and loss have impacted each of us. Flexibility and adaptability have been our collective guiding principles as we reflect, evaluate and adjust our lives in ways we had not ever considered before.

While often positive, some consequences of this review and adjustment have been an increase in requests for mental health services, alongside challenges in maintaining the Agency’s staffing at full capacity. Since 2008, Tri-City has been about converting challenges to opportunities for innovation and improved client/community experience. This Executive Director’s Message is to share some of the ways we are currently transforming in response to the impacts of the pandemic and what to expect from your Mental Health Authority as we move forward together.

How Tri-City is Adjusting to Increased Service Demands and Workforce Shortages

As Tri-City adjusts to do more (services) with currently less (providers), persons seeking care may face appointment wait times longer than expected for ongoing therapy services, especially those that expect one-to-one services. To adjust to the needs and continue with effective mental health treatment, staff are being trained and coached in the specialties of family therapy, group therapy and collaborative care. The goal is to establish solid Recovery for clients and participants by building a whole life of support, connection and purpose. Populations primarily served by county behavioral health have noted that shifting services from a model that is traditionally Western/Eurocentric and focuses on the individual in relationship to an expert, to a system that emphasizes community and whole-person healing is a better fit for their needs and sustains wellness.

Tri-City places client choice as a priority and now provides telehealth and in-person options for services at all levels of care; and will continue to do so into the future. In demonstration of flexibility and adaptability, client appointments for some services may occur outside of former operating hours in order best accommodate both staff and client needs.

To address the increase in qualifying service requests, the efficient utilization of staff resources is also a priority. Some strategies to ensure the timely response of care for clients, and a manageable volume of services for staff include:

• • • • • a centralized scheduling system;
        • performance measures to focus treatment;
        • client outcomes to evaluate treatment success and plan transition;
        • and improved staff collaboration and referral processes to enhance client engagement throughout the entire Tri-City system of care

In addition to adapting service delivery and treatment options, Tri-City has also implemented strategies to address its workforce shortage. Under the leadership of its Chair, Robin Carder and Vice-Chair, Jed Leano, the Tri-City Governing Board has approved resolutions in recent months to create a new employee sign-on bonus, as well as a longevity bonus for staff achieving significant employment milestones beginning at 5 years of service. Additionally, beginning this fiscal year, Tri-City is investing funds, both at the State and local level to provide student loan forgiveness opportunities for its staff over the next few years. Through recognition, appreciation, and support, Tri-City strives to be a great place to work, as well as a great place to get care.

Partnership and Collaboration Make a Difference

Tri-City was created in 1960 at the request of active and engaged community members. They had a vision for their communities’ well-being. They wanted to ensure their cities had mental health services for those most in need that would be easily accessible and specifically responsible to each cities’ unique needs. Today, Tri-City continues to value and rely on the active participation of community members in the development and maintenance of its system of care.

Representation matters and Tri-City seeks the involvement of myriad groups and communities within the three cities as we strive to achieve diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of the organization. There are any number of ways to get involved, partner with us, and shape your local mental health authority:

• • • • • • Volunteer at Tri-City and become a service-learner
          • Become an MHSA Stakeholder and attend meetings and/or join workgroups to discuss, review and plan programming
          • Join one of Tri-City’s Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Committee Advisory Councils
          • Attend monthly Tri-City Mental Health Commission and/or Governing Board meetings to share, discuss and learn about issues related to the communities’ behavioral health needs and Tri-City’s services
          • Volunteer to become a Tri-City Mental Health Commissioner
          • Schedule a free presentation by Tri-City for your group or organization. We provide Community Mental Health Trainings on topics such as mental health signs and symptoms, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma and resiliency or simply to learn more about the Tri-City Mental Health Authority.

We welcome and deeply appreciate your participation in helping to shape and/or support the system of care in whatever way(s) fit for you.

To learn more about how to get involved, access services or for more information including career opportunities at Tri-City, visit our website at www.tricitymhs.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sincerely,

Antonette (Toni) Navarro Executive Director
Tri-City Mental Health Authority