Originally known for offering residential support through a close-knit community, over the years Alcott added mental health services to address clients’ needs for holistic treatment. Due to the subsequent changes in ownership of the buildings which Alcott originally leased for its tenants, Alcott dedicated continued attention to mental health service delivery while supporting clients in housing scattered throughout the Westside of Los Angeles. In recent years, as Los Angeles County has redoubled efforts to address the needs of community members facing mental health challenges, experiencing homelessness, and those navigating reentry from incarceration, Alcott has once again expanded the delivery of supportive services in a variety of residential settings, including transitional and permanent supportive housing facilities. Alcott has also assumed the lead role in the Westside Health Neighborhood, a DMH and Public Health initiative designed to improve awareness and access to behavioral health services through collaboration among community partners. Alcott has evolved from residential provider to outpatient mental health service delivery to community leader and collaborator.
With the 1968 passage of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) and deinstitutionalization in California, thousands of individuals formerly housed in state hospitals were discharged to their communities, often with nowhere to live. In response, a small group of individuals led by Beverlywood community member Tom Pritchard established the Beverlywood Mental Health Center (BMHC). The mission was to improve the quality of life for persons with serious and persistent mental illness by recognizing their individual strengths, promoting independence, and fostering personal empowerment.
