“It shouldn’t be that hard to find help. That’s exactly why the ADRC exists,” said Maral Karaccusian, Director of the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department (AD). “The goal isn’t simply to connect people to services. It’s to make sure people don’t have to navigate the system alone. Instead of sending people from one organization to another, our partners work together to help people reach the right services through a coordinated ‘No Wrong Door’ approach.” 

The Los Angeles County ADRC network includes AD, the City of Los Angeles Community Investment Department (CID), 211 LA, and key ILC partners: California Resource Services for Independent Living (CRS-IL), Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF), Disability Community Resource Center (DCRC), Disabled Resources Center (DRC), Independent Living Center of Southern California (ILCSC), and Service Center for Independent Life (SCIL). 

Monica Banken, Deputy for Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, highlighted the importance of collaboration: “Supervisor Barger has long championed collaborative solutions that improve access to county services. Today’s designation reflects years of partnership among county agencies, community organizations, and professionals who share a commitment to serving older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families. This achievement is about more than earning a state designation. It’s about building a stronger, more connected system that helps people find the right support more easily.” 

The ILCs play a large role in keeping that system connected. Keith Miller, Executive Director of CALIF, emphasized the unique perspective ILCs bring: “Fifty-one percent of the people that work for independent living centers are people with disabilities and people with lived experience. So the ADRC was a good match. Our goal is to work with older adults, work with people with disabilities, provide more enhanced information and referrals, do option counseling, and assist people who are interested in transitioning out of a nursing facility back into the community of their choice.” 

When consumers come to DRC in Long Beach, they’re presented with a wide range of programs from assistive technology and device lending to travel training and disability disaster access and resources. Jennifer Kumiyama, DRC Executive Director, added, “Whether someone needs help with housing, transportation, caregiving benefits, independent living services, or long-term supports, they can start with any ADRC partner and get that help. By working together, we’re creating a system that is more responsive, more efficient, and more person-centered. No one should have to figure out a complicated system on their own.” 

In addition to core services, each ILC offers unique programs that fill critical gaps. For example, CALIF’s Positive Wheels program started as an internal staff support for repairing mobility devices; it has grown into a community lifeline. “The majority of our staff at that time had power wheelchairs, and when they would break, we would be out of work. So, we hired a mechanic to come in and fix them…We continue to grow,” said CALIF ADRC Program Director Carrie Madden. 

At DCRC in Venice, systems change advocacy and peer-led services are at the heart of the mission. “You should get the help that you are entitled to and deserve, and you should be treated with dignity and respect in that process,” said TJ Hill, DCRC Executive Director. “We always put the person with a disability—their needs, their desires—first, not the agency’s idea of what independence means. We’ve expanded our systems change advocacy and our peer support specialist training, so people who’ve been told ‘no’ or had doors close on them, come to us, and we open those doors.” 

At ILCSC in Van Nuys, consumers have access to a wide range of services, from vocational training and employment support to independent living skills training. Matt Scharf, Executive Director of ILCSC, described their distinct offerings: “Our employment services, support for people with traumatic brain injuries, and our consumer-driven approach distinguish our center. We work alongside each individual to identify their goals, remove barriers, and build the skills and community connections needed to live independently.” 

Maria Aroch, ADRC Program Manager at CRS-IL in Downey, spotlighted several critical programs at her organization, which has offices across California: “We assist people to apply for Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other benefits. Our Traumatic Brain Injury program helps participants pursue employment and build community, and the EDGE program encourages students to succeed in college and navigate resources. Every person has their own journey, and our goal is to empower people with disabilities to live independently and fully participate in their own community.” 

For SCIL in Claremont, the pandemic was the catalyst for its now-thriving food bank. What began as a single delivery quickly grew into a major service for many households in the region.  As SCIL retiring Executive Director Larry Grable shared, “We started with one person. Now, we’re currently serving over five hundred households weekly, delivering to about three hundred and fifty directly to their door. Every one of our delivery drivers uses that time as a wellness check. If something’s not right, we make sure help is on the way.” 

Claremont Mayor Jennifer Stark, who volunteers every Friday to hand-deliver food to local older adults and people with disabilities for SCIL’s food bank, captured the collaborative spirit: “No single organization can meet every need alone, but together, sharing resources and focusing on the people we serve, we can create a system that’s easier to navigate, more responsive, and more equitable for everyone.” 

That responsiveness was the catalyst for SCIL consumer Natalie Webber and her mother and caretaker, Louise. They shared how the center changed their lives. Louise described Natalie’s creative journey, explaining that Natalie spent years writing and adapting theatrical scripts but lacked a place where her talents and lived experiences could flourish.  

At SCIL, she found that opportunity. The Claremont-based center created a theater and script-reading program where Natalie and other consumers could develop their artistic talents, build confidence, and connect with others. “One door—the most important door in her life right now—embraced her and said, ‘Sure. Script reading? Absolutely. Let’s do it,’” said Louise.  

In addition to the ILCs, 211 LA, the City of Los Angeles Community Investment Department (CID), and AD are also core partners who help connect people seeking help to the ILCs and the services that they need. 

 “We are committed to investing in people, businesses, and communities to create lasting opportunity and long-term economic prosperity through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and responsive service,” said Kadrina Baker, Director of the Direct Services Division at CID. “By bringing together youth development, family services, aging programs, workforce development, and economic opportunity under one unified City department, staff are better equipped to address the multiple and interconnected needs of older adults and their families, rather than responding to issues in isolation.” 

211 LA is the vital helpline at the hub of the ADRC network. “211 LA receives about 2,000 calls every single day, giving us a unique opportunity to connect people who have nowhere else to turn with life-changing resources,” said Maribel Marin, Executive Director of 211 LA. “Through the ADRC network, we’ve already connected thousands of callers to our community partners for deeper support.” 

Residents, caregivers, and families seeking assistance or information about long-term services and supports can connect with the Los Angeles County ADRC network by calling 211 LA (2-1-1), reaching out to any partner organization, or visiting the County Aging & Disabilities Department website. 

With the launch of the ADRC network, Los Angeles County residents can be confident that wherever they start, they’ll find a pathway to support, opportunity, and belonging.

Missed the ADRC launch? Watch the L.A. County Channel’s coverage of the event and get a closer look at SCIL.