Heart Forward LA

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Transforming the American mental health system through radical hospitality.

What We Do

We promote bold system change and advance radical hospitality along with the guiding principles that characterize the global best practice based in Trieste, Italy including:

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Social Recovery

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Right to a Purposeful Life

System Accountability

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Whole Person Care

Our Work In Action

Heart Forward has been convening the Hollywood 4WRD homeless coalition weekly since the onset of the pandemic — Heart Forward meeting with staff at PATH Metro Villas to discuss plans for a “radical hospitality” culture project underway until early 2022. (October 2020)

First meeting of the HFLA Advisory Board meeting since March.  Crafting the pandemic work plan with social distancing in place - 6/23/20 — First meeting of the HFLA Advisory Board meeting since March. Crafting the pandemic work plan with social distancing in place - 6/23/20

Last meal in a restaurant before the stay at home order:  breakfast with Professor Elyn Saks and David Israelian of The Painted Brain to talk about the Heart Forward vision - 3/14/20 — Last meal in a restaurant before the stay at home order: breakfast with Professor Elyn Saks and David Israelian of The Painted Brain to talk about the Heart Forward vision - 3/14/20

Before the lock down, Heart Forward was piloting “Kinship Afternoons” at a local board and care home.  This was a  MOTH storytelling event - 3/8/20 — Before the lock down, Heart Forward was piloting “Kinship Afternoons” at a local board and care home. This was a MOTH storytelling event - 3/8/20

Photo Gallery

2019 Delegation to Trieste conference

A visit to the central hospital

A visit to the community residence which is an alternative to jail

Anthony Ruffin DMH addresses conference

A Trieste tradition - dinner at a private osmize

Coffee break on the grounds of the former asylum

Conference session

Douglas Walker and Anthony Ruffin

Dr. Sherin addressing conference remotely

Housing tour in Trieste

How the CMHC is connected to the community in Trieste

Judge Biano and Daniele Piccione

Kerry Morrison and Dr. Mezzina

Kerry Morrison and LA panel address conference

L - R Keris Myrick, DMH. Dr. Bonavigo, Trieste. Dr. Insel, Steinberg Institute. Judge Bianco. John Jenkins, IMHCN. Kerry Morrison

LA law enforcement and judicial representatives meet with counterparts in Trieste

Learning about the Community Mental Health Center at Maddalena

Lunch at Il Posto delle Fragole run by a social cooperative

Post conference debrief over dinner

Post conference debrief