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West Hollywood panel spotlights children's mental‑health programs; Maple Counseling offers 10 free therapy sessions
Summary
At a Human Services Commission meeting, NAMI Westside LA described school and youth mental‑health resources that have reached thousands of children, and Maple Counseling announced 10 free therapy sessions for people who live, work, go to school or spend significant time in West Hollywood and outlined a free 'welcome center' to navigate care.
The West Hollywood Human Services Commission heard presentations on May agenda Item 5A about local mental‑health outreach and access. Oshri of NAMI Westside Los Angeles described free, school‑focused programming and a "children's mental health toolbox" of printable resources and activity packets designed for TK through college. "We've reached over 6,000 kids with this program this year," Oshri said, adding many materials are available in Spanish and can be printed or provided for school and community facilitation.
Maple Counseling CEO Verina Blile told the commission Maple provides clinical services, community crisis response and a Briskin Wilder Welcome Center to help people find affordable ongoing care. "If they are a constituent here in the city, they get 10 free sessions with us," Blile said, describing the center's role in benefits navigation and referral to in‑network therapists. She said Maple also uses a sliding‑scale fee after the initial sessions, and staff can help enroll people in insurance‑based care when appropriate.
Commissioners pressed presenters on LGBTQ‑specific materials ahead of Pride and on access for city workers and people experiencing homelessness. NAMI said it would prioritize developing LGBTQ‑focused resources for Pride programming. Maple clarified that the 10 free sessions are available not only to West Hollywood residents but also to people who "live, work, go to school or spend a significant amount of time in the West Hollywood area," and that unhoused people who spend significant time in the city may qualify.
Commissioners and staff asked how students with acute crises are handled and how substance‑use treatment is coordinated with mental‑health care. Maple and NAMI said school presentations are delivered in coordination with school mental‑health personnel and that Maple's welcome center and case navigators work with local substance‑use treatment providers and county systems to make referrals and provide case management.
Maple provided contact information for residents seeking services: maple4counseling.org and 310‑271‑9999. Commissioners urged the city and nonprofit partners to ensure outreach to workers, volunteers and community groups so more people know about the free sessions and resources.
The commission did not take a formal vote on follow‑up actions but asked staff to share resource links and outreach opportunities with other boards, commissions and community partners.
