PACE

Partnerships and Community Engagement (PACE) Mental Health services provide a wide variety of diverse community-based services to meet the needs of youth and families in a treatment setting and within their own community. Activities and services are tailored to the unique strengths, developmental needs, and values of the child and family served. PACE provides groups and activities to support children in identifying their needs and addressing underlying behaviors so that they can improve their daily functioning. Families play a key role in this process and are part of a collaborative team that includes clinicians and PACE activity staff. PACE activities and groups are designed to support children in attaining the skills needed to be successful at home in their community. This process utilizes a rich variety of strategies and activities to engage the child and family in the overall treatment program. As children progress toward their goals, PACE activities assist families in identifying community resources and natural supports available.

PACE activities develop skills and competencies that are comprehensive and adaptable to enable the child to live a healthy, productive life. PACE multidisciplinary therapeutic activities include: Adjunctive Therapies such as art, music, drama, movement and recreation therapy to assist clients in acquiring and developing problem solving skills, as well as increasing impulse control, decision making, coping skills, anger management and social skills. Art therapy is used as an intervention that utilizes painting, drawing, collage, and ceramics to provide a creative outlet for feelings of joy, anger, and sorrow as well as increase self-expression of the child and youth. Fitness and nutritional awareness are enhanced by cooking classes, hiking, cycling, Aikido, and other leisure skill development activities geared toward enhancing a healthy self-awareness and improving basic life skills as well as increasing self esteem. Every session includes an opportunity for the child to discuss skills they've learned and how to transfer these skills to other areas of their lives. A core of "classic groups" is maintained each cycle and new activities are consistently being developed in response to input from the children and families in the program. PACE is funded primarily through the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Services are available to families whose children meet medical necessity requirements.