In accordance with policy established by the Board of Supervisors that supports openness in County government, priority shall be given to requests for public information from the media. Unnecessary delays by Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH/Department) staff in responding to the media should not be imposed by supervisory and/or management staff or by DMH Public Information Officer (PIO). (BOS Policy 3.140)
This policy does not apply to media requests for independent expert opinion and views from staff on matters outside the realm of County business in areas where the staff, by virtue of their training and/or professional discipline, is considered an independent expert.
Only information defined as public and exempt records with legal waiver in DMH Policy 104.01 may be released.
In the event a person receiving voluntary or involuntary mental health services from DMH or its contractor agencies chooses to participate in responding to media inquiries, staff are required to obtain a prior signed Consent to Photograph/Audio Record as well as a prior signed Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Protected Health Information from the person or his/her legal guardian before endorsing or facilitating the participation.
