Dr. Shy Rab joined the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) Team as the first “street psychiatrist” in 2018. On any given day, you’ll find him and his HOME Team partners meeting with the unhoused community, providing treatment for mental health conditions.
Dr. Shy Rab, Los Angeles County Department of Mental health
It’s an innovative and holistic approach, meeting people where they are instead of requiring them to come into a clinic or office for treatment. Dr. Rab and four other psychiatrists and two psychiatric nurse practitioners are joined by outreach workers, social workers, nurses and substance abuse counselors. The growing program is currently in the process of hiring more psychiatrists.
Dr. Rab was featured in this Los Angeles Times story, exploring the opportunities and challenges facing this type of psychiatric treatment.
Dr. Rab joined Steinberg Institute Director of Communications Jason Shoultz for a conversation about the program.
To learn more about the L.A. County HOME Team, click here.