Westside Community Services has been providing community-based mental health prevention and treatment, substance abuse, and other social services to the City and County of San Francisco for almost 50 years. Incorporated in 1967, Westside is one of the oldest community-based mental health agencies in the nation. Programs and services have varied over the years, while a commitment to providing high quality, culturally appropriate programs remains at the organization’s core. Originally funded by President Kennedy’s Community Mental Health Act, Westside Community Services was designated to provide for the underserved, particularly African Americans, the majority of the population in the Western Addition. In the 1970’s we expanded to include children and adolescent services. As the AIDS epidemic worsened in the 1980’s, Westside established its first AIDS case management program, later expanded to include home-based health care. During the 1990’s, the agency focused on Crisis Care, the integration of mental health and substance abuse services, as well as renewing its emphasis on engaging family and community in the healing process. Today, Westside complements its community health services with innovative youth leadership, violence prevention, and a culturally tailored therapy programs in a variety of locations throughout San Francisco.
Westside Crisis Clinic, Outpatient Clinic, and Assertive Community Treatment are based out of our 245 11th Street location open 8am – 6pm M-F, Sat hours 9-2pm. These multi-disciplinary programs provide crisis drop-in medical and counseling services, individual and group counseling, case management and medication assistance to those with severe mental illness. Intensive case management programs focus on preventing hospitalization and medication management, while integrating individuals into the workforce and community.
Our Methadone Maintenance Clinic is located at 1301 Pierce Street (hours are M-F am-3:30pm, Sat/Sun 7am-11am) helps individuals move toward sobriety by using a multidisciplinary, harm reduction model. Counselors and medical staff provide evaluation, education, and goal-oriented therapies promoting sobriety, stability, employment and housing.
AIDS Case Management and Home Care focuses on prevention, connecting patients to medical, social and home care services they need to maintain their health and well-being.
Our Child and Adolescent Services is at 1140 Oak Street (Hours M-F 9am-5pm) focuses on prevention of high-risk activities, building self-esteem, providing education, medication and counseling to engage youth in improving leadership skills and resilience. Specialty clinics include: general child psychiatry, ADD, Autism Spectrum, Teen Core, and Ajani Outreach. Hours are M-F 9am-5pm.
Westside CalWORKS (245 11th Street; M-F, 8am-5pm) provides mental health and substance abuse services to parents enrolled in this welfare-to-work program. Treatment services are family-focused and designed to eliminate barriers to gainful employment created by mental health and substance abuse problems.