At the instigation of Dr. Ethan Allen, Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA) was founded in 1971 under the name Rio Hondo Area Drug Abuse Coalition. In 1986, the agency, ready to broaden the mission to include prevention of both drug use and HIV/AIDS, became the Rio Hondo Community Action Network (CAN). In the years that followed, L.A. CADA changed its location several times before finding a permanent location on Bloomfield in 1993.

In 1988, Dr. Allen united the Open Door Clinic with the Rio Hondo Community Action Network to become L.A. CADA. During the 90s, L.A. CADA began to grow at such a pace than it had ever experienced. L.A. CADA expanded the range of available programs to include school-based prevention, court-ordered DUI classes, and outpatient programs in two East Los Angeles Housing Authority Projects as well as Lynwood and West Covina.

L.A. CADA has successfully made the transition from a community coalition concerned with health of its residents and families to the innovative social service agency it is today.

The history of L.A. CADA is one of constant growth, responsiveness to the needs of the community and steadfast faith in its mission to serve the needs of adolescents and adults alike. As long as that purpose never changes, L.A. CADA will continue to be a vital resource to the Los Angeles County community.

Today, L.A. CADA provides an array of quality services to the community made possible with the guidance, dedication and leadership of our Board of Directors:

• Residential Treatment – Providing comprehensive residential services including education and vocational assistance, medical care and independent living skills to those in the probation and parole systems.

• Mental Health Services – Crisis intervention, individual, group and family therapy is provided to at-risk youth, adults and their families. Mental Health Services administered through our Residential Facility and Youth Programs are made possible through funding from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

• Outpatient Services – Domestic Violence, Parenting, Family Therapy, Drug Counseling, Anger Management and HIV/AIDS Education are available to those in need.