2025-05-15T14:11:49-07:00 2024-12-31 990 2024-01-01 953371166 MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICES INC MENT 2133892077 801 N BRAND BLVD SUITE 240 GLENDALE CA 91203 Jill Kennedy Treasurer 3106661757 2025-05-15 1 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Jenny Farrell 801 N Brand Blvd Suite 240 Glendale CA 91203 6433227 0 X https://www.mhas-la.org/ X 1979 CA Mental Health Advocacy Services provides comprehensive legal services for low-income Angelenos who have mental health disabilities and face discrimination and other barriers to meeting basic needs and achieving general wellbeing. Legal remedies can help this especially vulnerable population achieve housing and economic stability that, in turn, promotes mental health and overall wellbeing. 24 24 31 3 0 0 2393802 4427810 0 34477 6545 74307 -36402 -26174 2363945 4510420 0 0 0 0 2044492 2631359 24200 26400 115491 325646 277715 2394338 2935474 -30393 1574946 1652167 3277992 398923 448234 1253244 2829758 X The mission of Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS) is to protect and advance the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities and empower them to assert those rights in order to maximize their autonomy, achieve equity, and secure the resources they need to thrive. 1 0 693315 0 4000 Homelessness Prevention Projects - MHAS is the lead agency in multiple behavioral health-legal partnerships in which legal services intervention specifically targeting low-income tenants with mental health disabilities at risk of homelessness is holistically integrated in partnership with mental health services providers in Los Angeles. Clients are provided with tenant advocacy assistance in landlord-tenant rental disputes, including pre-eviction legal services, counseling, advice and consultation, mediation, training, renter education and representation, and legal services to improve habitability and to ensure receipt of eligible income or benefits to improve housing stability. MHAS is also a proud member of the Stay Housed L.A. coalition, a partnership between the County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and local community and legal service providers that provides tenants with the information and support needed to exercise their rights so that they can remain safely in their homes. Through its participation in this partnership, MHAS provides individualized advice and counsel on fair housing and tenancy rights to clients with mental health disabilities, as well as direct representation on behalf of these clients in conflicts with landlords, housing authorities, and non-profit housing and service providers. MHAS also provides technical assistance and training to other members of the Stay Housed LA Coalition on the rights and responsibilities of individuals with mental health disabilities. Activities in 2024 included legal assistance in 332 individual client cases and technical assistance to multiple mental health organizations and housing providers. 495617 0 0 Medical-Legal Community Partnership - MHAS is a key partner in Los Angeles County's Medical-Legal Community Partnership ("MLCP"), a project administered by the Department of Health Services and the Department of Mental Health. Through the MLCP, MHAS assists participants with legal issues to ensure that they have the resources and support needed to achieve better health outcomes and overall well-being. Since the project began in 2018, MHAS has helped thousands of participants on legal matters in the areas of housing, public benefits, and discrimination; provided a series of trainings on legal issues pertinent to healthcare workers; and guided hundreds of clinical staff with legal technical assistance. In 2024, MHAS provided legal and technical assistance to 650 clients through this project. 180000 0 0 Mental Health Court Self-Help Clinic - In 2022, MHAS launched a new legal clinic in partnership with the Mental Health Court targeting individuals with mental health disabilities. The Clinic provides Court-approved information and resources about Mental Health Court proceedings to litigants and other members of the public who are not currently in custody. The Clinic also offers information and brief services on a range of ancillary civil legal issues with a goal of helping litigants achieve greater overall stability, thus allowing them to move through their proceedings at Mental Health Court with greater efficiency and success, and with less likelihood of returning. This includes helping litigants secure and maintain housing, helping litigants access SSI or other benefits to which they may be legally entitled, and assisting litigants with obtaining - or having reinstated - their Driver's License or California ID, among other civil, legal needs. In 2024, MHAS provided information and technical assistance to 419 individuals. 1288967 0 30477 Other program services in 2024 included: (1) Addressing Barriers to Reentry Project - MHAS partners with the organization Painted Brain on "Project New Start," a comprehensive job placement, mental health, and legal services program for formerly incarcerated individuals that reside in South Los Angeles. Project New Start was established to combat employment barriers for individuals who are or who have been in the criminal justice system and are experiencing mental health challenges. MHAS helps clients overcome barriers to reentry by providing legal services and advocacy in the areas of expungement, employment, housing, and criminal justice debt. (2) CARE Court Advocacy - In 2023, MHAS began hosting a new Skadden Fellowship project focused on providing civil legal services to litigants in Los Angeles County's Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court. CARE Court is a new court system that allows a court to order behavioral health treatment for people with severe mental health disorders. Unfortunately, CARE Court has no authority to order permanent housing or other critical supportive services for respondents experiencing homelessness. MHAS' CARE Court project provides these individuals with comprehensive civil legal aid services in the areas of housing, benefits, and more, increasing their chances of meeting their CARE Court requirements and preserving their autonomy. (3) Consumer Advocacy - Consumer law and credit reparation are common areas of service across MHAS' programs serving low-income clients with mental health disabilities. MHAS provides legal assistance related to debt collection, credit reporting errors, financial exploitation and financial disputes with landlords, businesses, and public agencies. (4) Fair Housing - MHAS fights housing discrimination against individuals with mental health disabilities through legal representation and fair housing education and outreach activities. Activities in 2024 included conducting fair housing workshops for mental health consumers and service providers and distributing "Fair Housing Tip of the Month" email messages in in English, Korean, and Spanish to over 4,500 people and organizations. (5) Government Benefits Advocacy - MHAS provides government benefits assistance to people with mental health disabilities, including providing advice about the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application process, as well as preventing clients from losing their SSI benefits by assisting them with post-eligibility issues such as benefit terminations, overpayments, and disability reviews. (6) Special Education Advocacy - MHAS conducts community outreach and parent training and technical assistance to help low-income families obtain special education and other services their children need to achieve academic success. MHAS also provides individual advocacy including negotiation with school districts and other agencies and representation in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, mediations and administrative hearings. (7) Transition Age Youth (TAY) Medical-Legal Partnership - MHAS operates a medical-legal partnership with Daniel's Place in Santa Monica. Daniel's Place provides mental health care, housing assistance, hot meals and showers, and other services to transition age youth with mental health disabilities who are chronically unhoused. Through this partnership, MHAS provides direct legal services involving housing, traffic and parking tickets, public benefits, expungements, and other issues to promote a happy and successful transition to adulthood. (8) Veterans Legal Services - In 2024, MHAS launched a partnership with the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program operated by Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA). Through this partnership, MHAS provides vital legal services to veterans to promote access to housing and long-term housing stability. MHAS attorneys represent MHALA's veteran members facing a range of legal issues, including veterans fighting eviction and those denied housing due to discrimination. In addition to direct representation, MHAS offers technical assistance to support MHALA's broader efforts to ensure that every veteran has a safe, stable place to call home. (9) Other legal services including direct assistance regarding legal issues affecting low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities; training and technical assistance to attorneys, mental health professionals, consumer and family member groups, and other advocates; impact litigation; and policy advocacy aimed at protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with mental health disabilities. 1288967 0 30477 2657899 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 1 31 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 24 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 CA X Jenny Farrell 2133892077 801 N BRAND BLVD SUITE 240 GLENDALE CA 91203 Jenny Farrell Executive Director 32 0 X 169657 0 24189 Renee Cook Director of Administration and Finance 32.00 0.00 X 136052 0 16278 Naomi Sultan Supervising Attorney 32 0 X 105233 0 13389 Emily Aviad Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Edward Casey Director, President 2 0 X X 0 0 0 Lauren Cruz Director, Secretary 2 0 X X 0 0 0 Douglas Hall Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Lisa Harris Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Azita Iskandar Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jill Kennedy Director, Treasurer 2 0 X X 0 0 0 Jeanette Laba Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Nicole Ko Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jessica Laird Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Alexa Lawson-Remer Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Marcellus McRae Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Lisa Yumi Mitchell Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Alyssa Musante Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Katherine Perez Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Francis Ryu Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Elyn Saks Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Bradley Schneider Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Laura Schwartz Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Andrew Spitser Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Zach Tofoya Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jessica Walker Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 Jerome Wilhort Director, Vice President 2 0 X X 0 0 0 Tammy Wu Director 1 0 X 0 0 0 410942 0 53856 3 0 1 0 0 258 0 137981 0 1681774 2607797 4544 4427810 Attorneys Fees 541100 28072 28072 0 0 Training and service contracts 541100 6405 6405 0 0 0 0 0 0 34477 74307 0 0 74307 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1886000 0 1886000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10580 137981 36807 -26227 0 -26227 Miscellaneous income 900099 53 0 0 53 0 0 0 0 53 4510420 34477 0 48133 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 350760 286437 26660 37663 0 0 0 0 1898642 1813387 54283 30972 0 0 0 0 212194 192498 15637 4059 169763 158622 6224 4917 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10500 2160 8340 0 0 0 0 0 26400 26400 0 0 0 0 46554 25480 20976 98 0 0 0 0 37771 18808 15615 3348 59186 49595 4110 5481 0 0 0 0 42309 38922 2525 862 9857 8228 613 1016 0 0 0 0 2110 751 1359 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5422 4317 1105 0 28463 27362 712 389 Parking 5871 4725 1053 93 Professional Membership 16300 13280 2851 169 Library 13372 13327 21 24 0 0 0 0 2935474 2657899 162084 115491 747970 481408 236000 152370 314097 272390 31825 82512 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29878 44640 32474 11315 24988 21159 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 267409 2223513 1652167 3277992 131577 217535 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 267346 230699 398923 448234 X 954032 2771440 299212 58318 1253244 2829758 1652167 3277992 1574946 1568 0 0 0 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1609179 1838125 2319450 2393802 4427810 12588366 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1609179 1838125 2319450 2393802 4427810 12588366 4364299 8224067 343 14 1234 6545 75875 84011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12672377 143890 0.64898 0.82047 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 1 0 1 205 0 0 0 0 0 205 0 Schedule C, Part II-B, Line 1 (1) California Assembly Bill 2505 - Wrote letter in support of bill that would require practicing lawyers in California to report the number of pro bono hours they have completed in the past year when paying their annual licensing fees to the State Bar. (2) California Assembly Bill 1128 - Wrote letter opposing legislation that would have increased registration requirements for certain offenses, thereby potentially leading to negative impacts on employment and housing stability for affected individuals. 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28194 9207 18987 0 4280 2108 2172 21159 Brokered certificate of deposit investments (6 to 12 months maturity) 2001566 Right of use lease asset 221947 2223513 0 Right of use lease liability 230699 230699 X 4548795 1568 0 0 36807 38375 4510420 0 0 0 4510420 2972281 0 0 0 36807 36807 2935474 0 0 0 2935474 Schedule D, Part IV, Line 2b Description of credit counseling, debt management, credit repair, or debt negotiation services: MHAS provided legal assistance regarding debt, consumer finance, credit and other financial issues. Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 Footnote from financial statements: "MHAS has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Section 740-10, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. ASC Section 740-10 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Section 740-10 requires that an organization recognize in the financial statements the impact of the tax position if that position will more likely than not be sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. As of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, MHAS had no material unrecognized tax benefits, tax penalties or interest." Schedule D, Part XI, Line 2d Fundraising event expenses of $36,807 were reported as expenses in the audited financial statements. On Form 990, these expenses were reported as a deduction from fundraising event gross income in the Statement of Revenue, Part VIII, Line 8b, instead of being reported as expenses in Part IX. Schedule D, Part XII, Line 2d Fundraising event expenses of $36,807 were reported as expenses in the audited financial statements. On Form 990, these expenses were reported as a deduction from fundraising event gross income in the Statement of Revenue, Part VIII, Line 8b, instead of being reported as expenses in Part IX. X X X X X 1 Stephanie Kaiser and Associates Grant Consulting 30523 Cartier Drive Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275 Grantwriting 0 112000 26400 85600 112000 26400 85600 CA Annual Celebration 148561 137981 10580 0 0 6363 19667 1148 9629 0 0 148561 137981 10580 0 0 6363 19667 1148 9629 36807 -26227 X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jenny Farrell Executive Director 149233 0 20424 0 0 0 0 0 25835 0 195492 0 0 0 Renee Cook Director of Administration and Finance 133934 0 2118 0 0 0 0 0 19216 0 155268 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, Line 2 In 2024, MHAS launched a Veterans Legal Services project as described in Schedule O, Statement 2. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The prepared Form 990 is reviewed by the Treasurer (or other director serving on the Finance Committee, if so designated by the Treasurer) and the President (or other board officer, if so designated by the President) prior to filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c MHAS' conflict of interest policy requires directors, officers and key employees to disclose transactions and relationships that could create potential conflicts of interest. Covered individuals complete an annual questionnaire regarding potential conflicts of interest and business and family relationships with other covered individuals. Upon disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest, the Board of Directors (or a duly constituted committee thereof) determines whether a conflict exists and, in the case of an existing conflict, whether the contemplated transaction may be authorized as just, fair and reasonable to MHAS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The Board of Directors reviews and approves the compensation of the Executive Director after reviewing data regarding the compensation of similarly qualified individuals in comparable positions at similar organizations in the same geographic area. This process was last completed in 2024. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 MHAS makes available to the public its current articles of incorporation, bylaws and audited financial statements. MHAS also makes available to the public its Form 990 for three years from the date of filing. Copies of these documents are available upon request. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c The Board of Directors established an Audit Committee in 2024.