Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Centers Expands Adolescent Mental Health Care with New Chinatown Outpatient Program to Serve Hundreds of Youth
Gateways is expanding comprehensive outpatient mental and behavioral health services for youth amid the increased demand for care, rising health care costs, and budget cuts to mental health services
LOS ANGELES – March 10, 2026 – At a time when rising health care costs and deep cuts to mental health funding threaten access to care for youth, particularly those with limited resources, Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Centers has expanded critical outpatient services with a new location of its Child and Adolescent Outpatient Program (GCAOP) at the Chinatown Service Center. This will serve hundreds of youth to help ensure they can access high-quality mental health care.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the ribbon cutting today to celebrate the new 6,000-square-foot space, which will serve more than 230 youth (ages 6-25) each year, offering therapy, psychiatric care, and social rehabilitation in a safe and supportive environment. The expansion reinforces Gateways’ long-standing commitment to providing high-quality mental health care, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
“I want to thank Gateways for stepping up with this new, 6,000 square foot facility that will serve hundreds of youth each year. This place will provide the healing needed to prevent challenges from escalating into crises,” said Mayor Bass. “Make no mistake, we have a long way to go – but my Administration and leaders like those at Gateways are turning the tide on major challenges like mental health that have been ignored for decades.”
This milestone comes at a critical juncture: as $1 billion in federal mental health grants for schools expired nationwide in spring 2025, Gateways is stepping forward with expanded services and improved access to ensure young people continue receiving the care they need. This is exasperated by rising health care costs, with surveys projecting U.S. health care spending to increase around 10 % in 2026, adding pressure to family budgets and access to services.
“By opening this new location at the Chinatown Service Center, we are extending our reach to serve even more young people and families across Los Angeles. This dedicated space allows our team of multidisciplinary providers to deliver personalized, innovative care and to ensure families know they are not alone on their journey to healing and resilience,” said Dr. Phil Wong, chief executive officer at Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Centers. “Gateways is proud to provide a safe, supportive environment where clients can receive the lifechanging care they need regardless of their ability to pay in this time of rising health care costs and large funding cuts to safety net mental health services.”
Gateways helps children and adolescents build resilience, develop healthy coping skills, and address challenges before they escalate. Services include individual and family therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and social rehabilitation. In partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, Gateways also provides outpatient services to students across more than 15 campuses, ensuring care is accessible and convenient.
“Our program is designed to meet young people where they are, whether that’s in school, at home, or here in the new Chinatown Service Center location,” said Charlotte Bautista, director of Gateways Child and Adolescent Outpatient Program. “We know early access to mental health care can change the trajectory of a child’s life, and we are providing a safe space where families can heal, grow, and thrive together. This expansion allows us to reach even more students and families who deserve consistent, high-quality care.”
Gateways’ expansion to the Chinatown Service Center is critical to launching its new commercial insurance line for GCAOP, addressing the growing number of families with private insurance who still struggle to access timely, affordable care. Through a partnership with Cigna/Evernorth, Gateways expands access to outpatient mental health services for youth ages 6 to 25, reducing waitlists and out-of-pocket costs. As demand for youth mental health services continues to rise and provider options remain limited, this expansion allows Gateways to increase capacity while staying true to its mission of delivering timely, high-quality care to all families in need.
For more than 70 years, Gateways has delivered comprehensive mental and behavioral health care to Southern California’s most vulnerable residents, regardless of background or ability to pay. The Chinatown Service Center expansion is part of a larger effort to increase access to mental health services countywide through strategic investments in community-based care.
About Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Centers:
Since 1953, Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Centers has provided comprehensive mental and behavioral health care to the greater Los Angeles area. Serving clients from age 6 through adulthood, Gateways offers a full range of person-centered services, including inpatient care, residential support, outpatient services, homeless services, and forensic programs, all designed to meet individuals where they are and support long-term stability and wellness. Grounded in whole-person, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care, Gateways serves some of LA’s most vulnerable populations with compassion, dignity, and a commitment to accessible, high- quality mental health services.
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