Tomorrow morning, the Board of Supervisors will discuss asking the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) to analyze and prepare a report on the fiscal and economic impact of raising the minimum wage in the County. Raising the minimum wage is a hotly debated issue and as the largest county in the country, Los Angeles County should join the national conversation and take a fair and balanced approach to studying it.

At the same time though, I will be introducing a motion to instruct our Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, along with the Small Business Commission and LAEDC, to conduct hearings in unincorporated areas of the County, to give business owners the opportunity to comment on a potential minimum wage ordinance.

If we are to consider requiring businesses to pay their employees more, we need to understand all of the economic benefits, as well as the impacts on businesses of all sizes. I want to ensure that the mom and pop stores–the dry cleaners, the car washes, the nail salons–around Los Angeles County have an opportunity to let their voices be heard during this process. I believe that they should be engaged directly and be offered the chance to voice their thoughts and ideas about a minimum wage increase

I do not share my problems with strangers.

I can’t bring shame to my family.

How will talking about my fears and pains help me feel better?

These are common statements the clinical staff of Pacific Asian Counseling Services (PACS) hear as they work with clients in Los Angeles County.

“There is a stigma attached to mental illness in America,” said Mariko Kahn, Executive Director of PACS. “But that stigma is often exponentially greater in Asian communities, so we are trying to identify better ways to help this population.”

PACS, which serves people of all ethnicities, provides an array of mental health services designed to be culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate to respond to the diversity of their clients. Through the years, they’ve been recognized for their expertise with refugee and immigrant Asian Pacific Islander populations, and as a result, received funds from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to explore innovative therapies specifically aimed for the Cambodian community.

PACS selected this Southeast Asian group because of their tremendous need and disparity in accessing care. The Long Beach community is actually home to the largest population of Cambodians outside their home country. Many suffer from the tragedy that unfolded in Cambodia in 1975 when Khmer Rouge took control of the country. Today, the Cambodian community in the U.S. often feels linguistically isolated, and many continue to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

To assist, PACS launched its Integrated Network for Cambodians (INC) three years ago in Long Beach, and just received renewal for an additional three years of funding given its successful outcomes.

“What we love about this program is that it uses the beliefs and traditions of an ethnic group, combined with western therapeutic practices to help them heal – it’s very innovative,” said Kahn. “This program functions like an actual living laboratory, and we’re learning so much from the unique programs we are testing to help the Cambodian community.”

To date, INC has introduced various religious and spiritual elements to their mental health services work, including acupuncture, a quarterly traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony, monthly cooking classes held in the sacred space of the temple, and meditation. Acknowledging and including spirituality in the healing process is key for Cambodians because it influences and permeates all aspects of daily life.

“We’ve listened to our clients as we’ve developed these services,” said Eria Myers, program coordinator for INC. “They’ve provided the inspiration, and as a result, we are seeing great success and openness to heal.”

In the case of the blessing ceremonies, INC staff arrange for clients visit a local temple to honor their ancestors who passed away as a means to receive a blessing to relieve bad karma from previous lives.

“They believe their current suffering could be linked to bad things they’ve done in previous lives,” said Myers. “So after the blessing ceremony, they leave feeling happier and calmer.”

Research revealed many Cambodian clients felt that the trauma inflicted upon them by the Khmer Rouge is a result of past karma. Being in a blessing ceremony is significant in the healing process because it is a way to balance the disharmony in their lives.

With the cooking classes, clients join together as one of the clients leads a session to teach the others how to make a traditional Cambodian dish. The sessions have been shown to build self-esteem, and transfer wisdom to younger generations. Also the tradition of feeding the monks with the dishes prepared by them bestows blessings on the clients and their families.

While INC directly serves 50-60 clients annually with mental health services, their community partners provide outreach, engagement and education to hundreds of community residents about emotional distress, access to medical services and substance abuse treatment.

To be enrolled as a client of INC, an individual must meet the medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services and have a chronic medical condition and/or a substance abuse issue. Counseling services and substance abuse treatment is offered at no cost to the client. For medical treatment, clients are seen at low cost to no cost depending on which program they are eligible for at PACS’ partner, The Children’s Clinic.

As INC enters its three-year extension, Myers said one of the goals is to find more effective and creative ways to outreach to Cambodian children and adolescents so they can also benefit from receiving integrated mental health and physical health care services.

“We’re on the right track,” said Myers. “Our results show these innovative approaches are making a difference, and we’re looking forward to supporting more who could benefit from our services.”

To learn more about Pacific Asian Counseling Services, visit http://pacsla.org/

Tomorrow, the Board of Supervisors is expected to receive an update on the status of the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communication System project, better known as LA-RICS.

The LA-RICS Authority, who is overseeing the project, was established in 2009 and is comprised of 73 member agencies, including the County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles and a number of independent and contract cities. The Authority’s purpose is to create a public safety communications network that would connect all government services and agencies and allow them to communicate in the event of a disaster. It will allow public safety personnel to enhance emergency coordination and help keep residents and businesses safer and more secure.

For this system to work, we need to fix “dead zones” throughout the region that cause lapses in emergency communication. Under the LA-RICS plans, towers would be installed in these areas that would carry a wireless LTE system to give first-responders access to a dedicated broadband network that will transmit data so that communication will continue in the event of a disaster.

Public safety and health is our number one concern in Los Angeles County and as this project moves forward, we will continue to address issues that are voiced by residents of our cities and communities.

Yesterday the Senate rejected, by a 55-43 vote, Senate Bill 178 – the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which would establish a fund to help victims of trafficking by using fees charged to those convicted of buying and selling them.  The bill was stalled because of the addition of the Hyde amendment, a rider that restricts federal funding for abortion and other health care services.

Washington strikes again, this time demonstrating its dysfunction at the expense of the young victims of child sex trafficking.

Legislation to punish the buyers and sellers of children, and provide services to the victims of this heinous crime, should not be further wronged by the inability of Congress to work together.  These children are often victimized first at home and then by the profiteering of pimps.  Now, those who should be doing everything possible to protect them, instead use them as a pawn in their partisan games.  Democrats and Republicans both play politics, blaming and finger-pointing, instead of giving these young victims a voice, services and the path to a better life.

Take a stroll through Pediatric Therapy Network’s (PTN) colorful Torrance-based facility and it’s hard to imagine it launched in 1996 with no funding.

There are swings, brightly-colored balls, bikes, riding toys, puzzles, games, and most importantly, a dedicated group of therapists and volunteers devoted to helping children reach their full capabilities.

“Back then, we just had this dream,” said PTN CEO Terri Nishimura, also a licensed occupational therapist with a specialty in sensory integration. “Several therapists, parents and teachers got together, we pulled together some used equipment and materials that were either donated or purchased at yard sales, and we set out to build an innovative therapy center for kids that supported research and therapist training. I am so pleased with what we’ve been able to accomplish.”

Today, the organization provides over 130,000 hours of therapeutic intervention to 2,500 children a year in LA County. The facility, supported by 150 staff members, runs therapy programs, Monday through Friday, and additionally offers an Early Head Start program for low-income families.

During the summer, PTN offers an innovative two-week summer day camp for children ages five to 14 with special needs. Camp Escapades, armed with hundreds of high school and college volunteer helpers, rolls out activities geared and adapted so every camper can have fun regardless of their age or ability.

“We’ve learned so much through the years about the value of early intervention,” said Nishimura. “The early years are absolutely critical in terms of setting a child up for a positive trajectory for development, learning and forming healthy social skills.”

LA County has done wonders in terms of educating parents and caregivers about the importance of focusing attention on health, education, reading and beyond in those first five years of life. PTN staff members have furthered that dialogue by serving on the LA County Policy Roundtable for Child Care and Development

Additionally, PTN continues to work closely with parents and doctors about getting young children assistance if they are in need of physical, occupational, and/or speech-language therapies. As a result, more children are being diagnosed at younger ages, and organizations like PTN are able to launch a plan of attack to rehabilitate or habilitate the child sooner.

Parent James Reid was introduced to PTN shortly after his son’s first birthday when he and his wife started noticing developmental delays in their young child. Jay R. was born with an excess of spinal fluid on his brain, and as a result endured some early days in the Intensive Care Unit. Months later, the family knew Jay R. would need help with speech and occupational therapy, so they linked up with PTN.

“I can’t imagine where we would be today if it had not been for PTN,” said Reid. “Jay R. is still delayed in some areas, but he is now a thriving, energetic three-year-old. As soon as we started going to PTN, we felt we had some direction and tools to help him. The entire facility is built around kids, so you just see the children enjoy the environment and staff. Everyone from the receptionist to the therapists to the administrators is warm and welcoming.”

Nishimura adds that changes in the affordable healthcare act will allow more children with developmental and medical issues to benefit from PTN services. The affordable healthcare act mandates that small and individual health insurance plans now cover medically necessary behavioral health treatments for individuals will developmental disorders like autism, Rett syndrome, Aspergers, and other childhood disintegrative disorders.

“Many healthcare providers have yet to realize this news, so we want to spread the word that families can get help, and should feel comfortable seeking resources early,” said Nishimura.

To learn more about PTN, visit www.pediatrictherapynetwork.org.