In a significant development for mental health care accessibility, Maple Counseling has teamed up with Saban Community Clinic in a groundbreaking partnership aimed at expanding services to underserved populations in Los Angeles. Announced on Thursday, the initiative, dubbed the Saban Partnership Program, promises to make high-quality mental health care available at no cost to individuals who might otherwise lack access.

The partnership represents a strategic response to the urgent need for comprehensive healthcare that integrates mental health services. By joining forces, Maple Counseling and Saban Community Clinic aim to address the disparities in health care access, particularly mental health, which often remains out of reach for many due to cost barriers.

As part of this collaboration, Maple Counseling has bolstered its team with the addition of four bilingual Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (AMFTs), including Karina Gonzalez, Maria Quinonez, Karen Broutvaien, and Martín Lasa. These new hires, supervised by Clinical Supervisor Dr. Griselda Galvan, PsyD, LMFT, will focus on delivering empathetic, culturally sensitive care.

Varina Bleil, CEO of Maple Counseling, spoke about the initiative’s importance. “This collaboration with Saban Community Clinic marks a significant milestone in our efforts to eliminate barriers to mental health services,” she said. The goal, according to Bleil, is to enhance the collective capacity of both organizations to deliver specialized, compassionate mental health care tailored to the unique needs of the community.

Echoing Bleil’s sentiments, Muriel Nouwezem, CEO of Saban Community Clinic, highlighted the critical need for such initiatives. “Our communities face profound challenges in accessing mental health services, necessitating sustained investment and support from community-based organizations,” Nouwezem noted. She emphasized the role of the partnership in providing dignified, culturally appropriate care to those most in need.

The partnership has launched and is currently welcoming participants. For further information or to arrange an interview with leaders from Maple Counseling or Saban Community Clinic, contact Varina Bleil at vbleil@tmcc.org or (310) 271–9999 x219. To learn more about Maple Counseling and its services, visit Maple Counseling’s website.

This collaboration stands as a beacon of hope, promising to make mental health services more accessible and to foster a healthier, more resilient society.