Didi Hirsch Psychiatric Service
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ROOTS OF THE LOS ANGELES DIDI HIRSCH PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DBA DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ("DHMHS") EXTEND BACK TO THE 1930S, WHEN A GROUP OF WOMEN FUNDED PSYCHIATRIC CARE FOR PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES WERE DEVASTATED BY THE DEPRESSION. BEGINNING WITH JUST $5,000, AND SPACE PROVIDED BY CEDARS OF LEBANON HOSPITAL, IN 1942, THESE PHILANTHROPIC PIONEERS FORMALLY INCORPORATED AS A 501(C)(3)-THE FIRST FREESTANDING NONPROFIT OUTPATIENT CLINIC FOR ADULTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.TODAY, DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE DISCRIMINATION AND INJUSTICE LIMIT ACCESS.
- Income
- $81.3 million
- Spending
- $79.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 82%
- Employees
- 906
- Volunteers
- 123
- Highest pay
- $513,261, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $58.6 million spent. DHMHS PROVIDES CARING OUTPATIENT AND RESIDENTIAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WITH AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $91.2 MILLION, OVER 845 STAFF AND 123 VOLUNTEERS AND DELIVERING SERVICES IN NEIGHBORHOODS FROM PACOIMA TO INGLEWOOD, TO WEST LA. THE AGENCY SERVED OVER 288,459 CHILDREN, FAMILY MEMBERS, ADULTS AND OLDER ADULTS THROUGH 9 COMMUNITY-BASED LOCATIONS AND 73 SCHOOLS. BY DOING SO, DHMHS HAS RESPONDED TO A SIGNIFICANT NEED AS MORE THAN 91% OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CLIENTS SERVED LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.OUTPATIENT SERVICES - DHMHS OFFERS INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND GROUP COUNSELING; PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT; AND CASE COORDINATION/MANAGEMENT FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. INTENSIVE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED TO THOSE EXPERIENCING SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS IN COMMUNITY, HOME, AND CLINIC SETTINGS. ON THE CAMPUSES OF ALMOST 73 SCHOOLS, OUR THERAPISTS HELP STUDENTS ADDRESS EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES AND SUCCEED IN THEIR STUDIES. CLIENTS ALSO WORK ON THEIR WELLNESS AND RECOVERY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PEER-LED SUPPORT GROUPS, CLASSES, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. CRISIS RESIDENTIAL CARE - DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S LONGEST-SERVING PROVIDER OF CRISIS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, OPERATING ONE RESIDENCE, EXCELSIOR HOUSE. THROUGH OUR SHORT-TERM PROGRAM, MEN AND WOMEN IN PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS MANY OF WHOM ARE HOMELESS OR AT-RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS REGAIN STABILITY AND IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND LIVING SITUATIONS.SPECIALIZED CHILDREN'S SERVICES - MANY OF THESE CHILDREN ARE FIVE YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER, SO THROUGH OUR ZERO TO FIVE PROGRAM WE HELP AT-RISK FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. ADDITIONALLY, A DEDICATED PROGRAM TAILORED TO YOUTH AGES 15-24 UTILIZES THERAPY AND MEDICATION TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR ILLNESSES AND ASSISTS THEM IN PURSUING AND ATTAINING THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS. BECAUSE OF ITS COMMITMENT TO CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH FINDINGS AND BEST PRACTICES, DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS AN ACTIVE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS NETWORK (NCTSN).SUICIDE PREVENTION - WITH CONTRACTS FROM ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN POTENTIAL, INC., VIBRANT EMOTIONAL HEALTH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY, THE SUICIDE PREVENTION CENTER (SPC) OPERATES THE OLDEST 24/7 SUICIDE PREVENTION CRISIS LINE IN THE NATION. THIS HOTLINE UTILIZES THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT OF ENGLISH- AND SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNSELORS AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES AND KOREAN-SPEAKING COUNSELORS DURING PEAK HOURS. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2025, THROUGH THIS HOTLINE AS WELL AS THE SPC CHAT AND TEXT LINES, STAFF RESPONDED TO OVER 234,459 CALLS, CHATS AND TEXTS FROM DISTRESSED INDIVIDUALS OR LOVED ONES CONCERNED ABOUT THEM. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AT SCHOOLS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HOSPITALS, COUNSELING CENTERS, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. OUR SUICIDE RESPONSE TEAM OFFERS IMMEDIATE SUPPORT AT THE SCENE OF SUICIDES THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOS ANGELES MAYOR'S CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE TO SUICIDE, SPC PROVIDES BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING. IT ALSO OFFERS SUPPORT GROUPS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. THIS SUPPORT GROUP CURRICULUM FOR SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY A NATIONAL REGISTRY AND REQUESTED WITH OVER 3,387 MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN ALL 50 STATES AND AN ADDITIONAL 59 COUNTRIES.
- $4.7 million spent. DHMHS OFFERS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PREVENTION COUNSELING IN OUR COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS AND IN THE FIELD FOR TEENS AND ADULTS WITH DRUG- AND ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS, INCLUDING FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM, KNOWN AS PROJECT 50.CLIENT ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICES CENTER (CENS) THROUGH THE CENS SYSTEM, DHMHS SERVES AS A LIAISON BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED WITH STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND HOSPITAL PARTNERS (E.G., COURTS, PROBATION SYSTEM) AND SPECIALTY SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES. OUR COUNSELORS ENGAGE AND FACILITATE LINKAGE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS.WOMEN'S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT - THROUGH THE AGENCY'S VIA AVANTA PROGRAM, WOMEN ARE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM SERIOUS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL ILLNESS IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE LIVING ENVIRONMENT. WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELING SESSIONS; PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT; PARENTING CLASSES; AND OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN SOBRIETY AND IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT AND LIFE SKILLS. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX WHO LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHERS ON SITE TAKE PART IN DEVELOPMENTALLY BENEFICIAL ACTIVITIES.
- $2.0 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING SERVICES - THROUGH OUR CALWORKS PROGRAM, DHMHS SUPPORTS CLIENTS IN THEIR JOB SEARCHES AND HAS HELPED 70% OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED FOR SERVICES GAIN EMPLOYMENT. CLIENTS ARE ALSO ASSISTED WITH SECURING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING THROUGH OUR HOUSING SPECIALISTS, WHO ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF WITH HOUSING AGENCIES AND LANDLORDS AND VISIT PROSPECTIVE LIVING SITUATIONS WITH THEM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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