MISSION HILLS : New Mental Health Center Dedicated

After an aftershock from the Northridge earthquake crippled their ability to serve the northeast San Fernando Valley, mental health care workers Friday officially dedicated the new San Fernando Mental Health Center in Mission Hills.

“It feels wonderful to be in the new building,” said Dr. Alex Kopelowicz, medical director of the complex situated at 15535 San Fernando Mission Blvd. “We were blown out of our old office after the earthquake. Now we not only serve more clients, we added innovative programs.”

The ceremony was marked by a ribbon-cutting featuring Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman, who spearheaded approval of the move in March.

The relocation to the new facility has been planned for about three years, said Miguel Rico, mental health analyst for the county.

The old location, a 6,100-square-foot office on 11479 San Fernando Road in San Fernando, was too small to accommodate group treatment programs and did not have enough parking, Rico said. The facility held about 30 social workers, psychiatrists and other professionals who treated chronically mentally ill patients.

But the situation became critical when the 5.3 aftershock on March 20 left the San Fernando Road complex red-tagged, forcing the workers to temporarily occupy the recreation center at San Fernando Park in April.

A few weeks later they moved intotwo trailers behind the San Fernando Municipal Courthouse on Macneil Street.

“It was very frustrating,” said Kopelowicz. “In our trailer, which was the size of an average living room, you had three doctors seeing patients right next to each other. You were whispering so you wouldn’t interfere with anybody else’s care.”

The new site, a former medical center, is about twice the size of the old facility, Kopelowicz said, providing more space for more programs.