Art Therapy Students Receive LA County Department of Mental Health Graduate Stipends

LMU College of Communication and Fine Arts proudly congratulates Marital and Family Therapy / Art Therapy graduate students who have been selected as recipients of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) Graduate Stipend Program, a highly competitive initiative that supports students preparing to serve in the county's public mental health system.

Every year, the LA County DMH Graduate Stipend Program awards a $18,500 stipend to 144 graduate students in their final year of clinical field placement. The goal is to help recruit, train, and grow a skilled public mental health workforce of qualified clinical professionals.

"LMU has a long history of our graduating students receiving LA County Dept. of Mental Health MFT Stipends to serve diverse and underserved communities in Los Angeles. Past awardees have gone on to build successful careers in public mental health, serving those most disadvantaged in our communities," said Practicum Coordinator Kathleen Fogel-Richmond.

The following LMU students were named LA County MFT Stipend Award winners:

• Aida Sixtos
• Charliemange Tapia
• Inah Marie Mango
• Jennifer Dang
• Jessica Ramirez
• Natasha Daniels
• Rudy Falagan

In addition, the following students were recognized as LA County MFT Stipend Award Alternates:

"These awards reflect our students' deep commitment to service, equity, and excellence in clinical practice," said Department Chairperson Louvenia Jackson. "They not only support our students financially but also affirm the essential role art therapy plays in supporting the mental health and well-being of communities throughout Los Angeles County."

By investing in graduate students during their clinical training, the LA County DMH Graduate Stipend Program helps address workforce shortages and expand access to quality mental health services across the region.

This recognition reflects both the excellence of LMU's Marital and Family Therapy / Art Therapy program and the university's broader commitment to social justice and community engagement. LMU congratulates these students on their achievement and looks forward to the meaningful contributions they will make within Los Angeles County's public mental health system.