SHIELDS’ Community Assessment Services Center (CASC) has been providing screening, clinical assessment and referral services to the South Los Angeles community since 1997. Our CASC works closely with a network of contracted substance abuse treatment agencies, mental health providers, and other community based organizations to  provide an entry point for individuals seeking treatment for alcohol and drug treatment, mental health and/or domestic violence services.

Target Population

SHIELDS’ CASC program serves residents of Service Planning Area (SPA 6) in South Los Angeles.

Services Provided

The CASC provides individuals seeking treatment for alcohol and drug treatment, mental health and/or domestic violence services with screening, clinical assessment, treatment matching and linkage to services. The CASC also services as our Assessment Center for child welfare cases providing Up-Front Assessments and MAT (Multidisciplinary Assessment Team) assessments to children and families referred from DCFS, along with serving as a specific referral source for categorically funded clients such as CalWORKs (AFDC), General Relief (GR), TANF and SSI recipients.

In addition, SHIELDS provides co-located assessment and referral services through staff located in the Los Angeles County Juvenile Dependency Court, the Kenyon Juvenile Justice Center and the Compton Superior Court.

Community Partnerships

SHIELDS operates the CASC in partnership with Special Services for Groups (SSG), the Department of Public and Social Services (DPSS), the Los Angeles Department of Public Health’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC), and the Department of Mental Health (DMH).

Accomplishments and Recognition

• The CASC conducts over 200 assessments monthly for individuals in need of child welfare, mental health and substance abuse services and links them to appropriate programs
• In 2010, SHIELDS implemented the NIATx model, a model of rapid-cycle process improvement specifically for behavioral health care settings , resulting in significant decreases in participant waiting time
• Onsite child care is available for individuals receiving CASC services
• CASC provides the scheduling and coordination of regular meetings with alcohol and other drug agencies, mental health programs and other human service agencies
• All services are provided at no cost to the participant