.png)
The City of South Pasadena welcomed Congresswomen Judy Chu to City Hall on Monday, April 10, 2023 to present a check for $1.5 million to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) toward the San Gabriel Valley Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement Program (SGV CARE), the region’s mental health crisis-response program.
Congresswoman Chu was joined by Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, who complimented his colleague in the legislature and the multi-city regional collaboration between Arcadia, Montebello, San Marino, and South Pasadena for setting an example to the entire nation on the success of alternative crisis-response models.
Other special guests included the Mayor of Monrovia, Becky Shevlin who also serves as the President of the SGVCOG, Executive Director of the SGVCOG Marisa Creter, team members of the Los Angeles Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA), and staff of the elected officials. South Pasadena Mayor Jon Primuth, Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Zneimer, Councilmember Michael Cacciotti, and Councilmember Jack Donovan all attended to support the event. Mayor Jon Primuth thanked all partners involved in prioritizing these efforts as we continue to face issues of increased homelessness, substance abuse, and the need to address mental health issues in our region.
The SGV CARE program has been active since the summer of 2022 to respond to calls for assistance in Arcadia, San Marino, South Pasadena, and Montebello. The SGV CARE team in each participating City consists of licensed clinicians and certified peer support specialists from L.A. CADA. These professionals are accompanied by police officers or firefighters in alternative crisis vans. Calls are received by 911 dispatchers who make SGV CARE aware for response. The professionals upon arrival are trained to de-escalate the situation, determine further hospital evaluation, and ensuring the safety of the individual throughout the entire process.
The $1.5 million of federal funding secured by Congresswoman Chu was a part of one of her Community Project Funding requests for the fiscal year 2023 Congressional appropriations process. This funding will continue to support the SGV CARE program to provide better access and mental health resources to the community. In addition to the $1.5 million secured for SGV CARE, the Congresswoman shared at the event that she has also secured another $33 million this year for additional projects across the San Gabriel Valley.
