Driven by a personal connection and passion, La Tina Jackson, LCSW, has worked in the mental health field for over 25 years.  In her current assignment as a Deputy Director of the Countywide Engagement Division for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Ms. Jackson oversees a number of programs for some of the most vulnerable populations impacted by mental illness in the County (e.g., people experiencing homelessness, veterans, incarcerated individuals with severe mental illness).  Her career path has included: working as a leader in community integration of adults dually diagnosed with severe mental illness and developmental disorders; Deputy Director of the Youth Services Department of the Los Angeles LGBT Center; special education teacher for youth with severe emotional disturbances; and adjunct faculty for the Masters in Social Work program at California State University Northridge.                   

During her tenure with the Department of Mental Health, Ms. Jackson has actively pursued opportunities to work with adults experiencing the greatest difficulty connecting to mental health treatment including but not limited to: homeless services, psychiatric mobile crisis response, and forensic mental health.   Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Jackson was responsible for the provision of public mental health services in the largest service planning area in Los Angeles County; provided clinical oversight to multiple emergency response and specialized programs; served as Clinical Director for one of the largest adult outpatient clinics in Los Angeles County; and co-managed the largest intensive field-based mental health program in the Department.  In the pursuit of expanding access to care and community support for those affected by severe mental illness, Ms. Jackson has also taken on additional noteworthy projects.  These include participation in a collaboration between the mental health professionals and local clergy (i.e. Clergy Roundtable); a local initiative to improve collaboration with mental health, community members, and law enforcement to prevent targeted violence; and development of a multiagency, multidisciplinary collaborative with Los Angeles City and County libraries to facilitate rapid service provision and housing placement for patrons experiencing homelessness.