Luis M. Garcia, Psy.D.

800 S. Santa Anita Avenue

Arcadia, CA, 91006

(626)254-5000

Email address:

Behavioral health and substance abuse professional and administrator promoting education, training, community awareness and National, State and Local advocacy for Latino client and families

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

Advisory Board Member of the National Hispanic and Latino Addiction
Technology Transfer Center Network (ATTC)

Vice President, Latino Mental Health Council

Latino Coalition for Wellness

Past President, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Latino Behavioral Health Institute

Hispanic Outreach Task Force

California Mental Health Planning Council

Professional Experience

Pacific Clinics (Arcadia and Santa Fe Springs, CA)

Vice President of Latino Program Development, February 2009 to Present

  • Oversees the Latina Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Dual Diagnosis, Children’s and Centro Familiar Programs through the supervision of 3 program directors
  • Responsible for Agency Latino Program Development focusing on behavioral health and substance abuse services for Latino consumers and families in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties
  • Oversees the implementation of culturally competent Latino services through the supervision of Agency Latino Service Coordinators responsible for program-specific and client and family services, recruitment and community outreach
  • Coordinates Agency training and awareness of multicultural issues, in general, with a specific focus on Latino services
  • Supervises, organizes and facilitates Spanish-speaking educational groups with staff, clients, family members and the surrounding communities
  • Advocates for culturally competent services for Latino clients and families at the National, State and local levels
  • Organizes, develops and participates in Multicultural conferences providing culturally competent educational training and materials on behavioral health and substance abuse issues for the communities, professionals, students, clients and families
  • Coordinates the PLAN program supporting clients on an individual and family basis
  • Facilitates the Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI) support group assisting Spanish-speaking clients and families increase awareness on behavioral health and substance abuse illnesses and treatment approaches

Corporate Director – Latino Program Development- Arcadia 1995-2009

Promoted to Vice President in 2009

  • Oversees the Latina Youth Suicide Prevention Program, Dual Diagnosis, Children’s and Centro Familiar.
  • Responsible for Agency Latino Program Development focusing on behavioral health and substance abuse services for Latino consumers and families in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties
  • Oversees the implementation of culturally competent Latino services through the supervision of Agency Latino Service Coordinators responsible for program-specific and client and family services, recruitment and community outreach
  • Coordinates Agency training and awareness of multicultural issues, in general, with a specific focus on Latino services
  • Supervises, organizes and facilitates Spanish-speaking educational groups with staff, clients, family members and the surrounding communities
  • Advocates for culturally competent services for Latino clients and families at the National, State and local levels
  • Organizes, develops and participates in Multicultural conferences providing culturally competent educational training and materials on behavioral health and substance abuse issues for the communities, professionals, students, clients and families
  • Coordinates the PLAN program supporting clients on an individual and family basis
  • Facilitates the Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI) support group assisting Spanish-speaking clients and families increase awareness on behavioral health and substance abuse illnesses and treatment approaches

Mental Health Specialist- Pacific Clinics- Santa Fe Springs 1994 to 1995

  • Provided individual and family counseling and case management behavioral health and day treatment services for English and Spanish-speaking clients and families
  • Developed AMI support groups for monolingual Spanish-speaking families
  • Provided education and awareness to clients and families on mental illness, medication management, law enforcement and patient rights
  • Developed coordination and service plans for clients and families
  • Integrated family participation in client service plans as part of treatment goals
  • Provided outreach services for the community; including networking with schools, churches, law enforcement, immigration and various service agencies
  • Provided outreach clinical services in the community, homeless shelters and soup kitchens
  • Developed dual diagnosis group for monolingual Spanish-speaking consumers

La Puente Valley Mental Health Center (La Puente, CA)

Case Manager1991 to 1995

  • Provided case management services for chronically mentally ill outpatient program including crisis intervention
  • Conducted Spanish-speaking socialization groups
  • Educated Spanish-speaking parents on mental illness through individual and support group sessions
  • Conducted intakes and assessments to for disorder evaluations

El Monte Psychological Center (El Monte, CA)

Counselor3/1990 to 10/1991

  • Provided counseling and crisis intervention services for outpatient program

Belwood Health Center (Belwood, CA)

Counselor10/1990 to 12/1991

  • Provided inpatient counseling and crisis intervention in Latino Program
  • Conducted socialization and recreational groups

A & L Medical Center (Hollywood, CA)

Intake Worker1989 to 10/1990

  • Provided counseling services for families with multiple psych-social problems
  • Referred clients to obtain mental health services

Education

  • Psy.D., Newport University
  • Ph.D., University of Guadalajara
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Southern California
  • BA, University of Guadalajara

Additional Professional Training

  • Doctorate of Gestalt Therapy, Tijuana Institute of Gestalt Therapy
  • Master of Gestalt Therapy, Tijuana Institute of Gestalt Therapy
  • Researched Chemical Dependency in Adolescents, University of Guadalajara
  • Therapeutic Alternatives to Chemical Co-Dependency, University of Guadalajara

Publications

  • “Familias Unidas Saben,” a family educational video in Spanish,
    June 1999
  • Latino Program Development Newsletter, “Informacion Para Usted” (Information for You), September 2000
  • “Pacific Clinics Programs and Latino/Hispanic Outreach in Los Angeles,” July 2000
  • “Engagement and Treatments for Latinos (Alternative Approaches) with Co-occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders,” May 2000
  • “Grupos Psico-Educacionales Para Familias Latinas” (Psycho-educational Groups for Latino Families), March 2000
  • “Recruitment of Consumers and Family Members of Color into the California Mental Health Workforce,” March 2000

Media Coverage

  • KMEX Channel 34 media, “Una Vida, Una Mente” series presentation on mental health.- Spanish language segment on Suicide prevention.
  • KMEX Channel 34 interview on Mental Health December 14, 2013

Awards

  • Unsung Hero Award, Washington D.C., October 2011 given by

CPH Foundation, Campaign for Public Health

  • Susan Mandel Leadership Award, December 2011 given by

CEO agency