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LOS ANGELES, December 10, 2024 – Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) and Keiro are proud to announce the expansion of their longstanding partnership to address the critical mental health needs of older adults in the Nikkei community. Through a new two-year initiative, the organizations will deepen their commitment to providing culturally sensitive, holistic mental health services that tackle the growing challenges of social isolation, caregiver stress, and the stigma surrounding mental health.
Since 2017, LTSC and Keiro have collaborated to improve the quality of life for Nikkei seniors through innovative programs and services. This expanded partnership builds on that foundation by integrating evidence-based therapy and English and Japanese bilingual case management into a value-based care model designed to address root causes of mental health issues.
“Our partnership with Keiro continues to be transformative for the Nikkei community,” said Erich Nakano, Executive Director at LTSC. “Together, we’re addressing urgent needs and breaking down barriers to mental health care while fostering resilience and well-being for our seniors and their families. There is no way we could do our work without Keiro’s partnership.”
Key Components of the Expanded Partnership
- Integrated Mental Health Services: LTSC’s licensed therapists and bilingual case managers will deliver culturally competent, evidence-based therapy and case management services for up to 100 clients annually in Los Angeles County. These services will address symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma while helping clients navigate social determinants of health like housing and access to healthcare.
- Holistic and Stigma-Reducing Approaches: By combining therapy and case management, LTSC fosters trust and engagement among clients, particularly those hesitant to seek mental health care due to cultural stigma. This model empowers seniors to achieve stability and participate fully in therapy.
“Keiro is honored to continue this vital collaboration with LTSC,” said Beverly Ito, President and CEO of Keiro. “Together, we are addressing the mental health crisis among seniors in the Nikkei community and ensuring that they receive the compassionate, comprehensive care they deserve.”
Measuring Impact and Long-Term Benefits
The partnership will employ tools like the PHQ-9 for depression and the UCLA Loneliness Scale to track outcomes, aiming for significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety and increased social connectedness among clients. Additionally, integrated care is expected to improve long-term health outcomes.
As the mental health crisis among seniors grows, this partnership underscores the importance of community-based solutions that are both innovative and culturally responsive.
“The mental health support we receive from Keiro gives clinicians at LTSC flexibility to meet clients where they’re at,” added Ayumi Omoto, LCSW, co-lead of mental health at LTSC. “Without a doubt, we have seen an increase in mental health needs amongst our Nikkei older adults. The partnership empowers clinicians to provide tailored, culturally sensitive care that addresses not only immediate mental health concerns but also the underlying factors contributing to them, such as housing, access to healthcare, and family dynamics.”
For more information about this initiative or to learn about LTSC and Keiro’s programs, please visit ltsc.org or keiro.org.
About Keiro:
Founded in 1961, Keiro improves the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers in the Japanese American community of Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. Keiro provides a range of culturally-sensitive programs and resources, in both English and Japanese, to meet the evolving needs of our aging community. In everything we do, we advance our mission through a person-centered, innovative, and collaborative approach. To learn more, visit keiro.org.
About Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC):
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) is a social service and community development organization that has been creating positive change for the people and places in Southern California for more than 40 years. Starting with its home in Little Tokyo, the organization builds and strengthens the unique ethnic communities of the region and helps people thrive. Assisting Nikkei seniors has been at the core of LTSC’s work since its establishment in 1979. LTSC’s social services program, which was created to serve monolingual Japanese seniors, is the organization’s longest running program. LTSC’s services for seniors include: care management, counseling and therapy, intake information and referral, support groups, community education workshops, and other senior-focused activities that promote wellness. For more information, visit LTSC.org.