HowHow We Work. What to expect when you or someone you love works with The Blackburn Group.

We have worked in mental health, recovery and personal growth since 2012. Our six areas of service are clinical care, recovery services, monitoring, mentoring, consulting and philanthropy through The Blackburn Foundation. They work as one organization.

That matters for you. You do not have to figure out which door to knock on. You call one number, (888) 305-5422, and talk to one person. If you want to read first, our Where to start page walks through the options.

We are based at 12326 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles. You can read more about the area we serve on our Los Angeles page.

Most people call during a hard week. They are worried about a son, a parent, a client or themselves. The first call is not a sales pitch. We ask what is going on, what has been tried and what you hope will change.

After we listen, we tell you honestly what we think would help. Sometimes that is one service. Sometimes it is a few working together. Sometimes it is a program or provider outside Blackburn, and we will say so. A good fit matters more to us than keeping you with us.

Being one organization does not mean everyone sees everything. A client decides, in writing, who can know what. Without that consent, information stays with the people working directly with them.

• Families get updates only when the client gives permission.
• The one exception is mentoring for high school students. Parents of high schoolers are part of the process from the start.
• Clients can change or withdraw their consent. When they do, we follow the new choice.

We know this can be hard for families who want to help. Our Families page explains how family involvement works and how to stay close while respecting an adult’s choices.

A shared plan keeps people from giving mixed messages. It also means the client does not have to tell their story again and again.

Often a case manager coordinates the pieces. If you are not sure what that role involves, see case management in our glossary. With the client’s consent, clinicians, mentors and monitoring staff all work from the same plan. Each one stays in their own role. Mentors, for example, are not licensed clinicians, and they do not act as therapists.

Monitoring works best when everyone knows the rules ahead of time. Before testing starts, the person signs off on who can see results. With that consent, results are shared in real time, so no one is left waiting or guessing.

A positive result can feel like a crisis. That is why we agree on a plan for positive results in advance. Everyone knows what happens next before it ever comes up, which keeps the response calm and fair.

Many clients already have a therapist, a psychiatrist, a school or a program they trust. We do not ask anyone to drop those relationships. With the client’s permission, we coordinate with outside therapists, psychiatrists, schools, programs and the professionals who referred them.

If you are a referring professional, our Professionals page explains how referrals and communication work.

• Honest recommendations, including when the answer is not us.
• Real family involvement, within the limits of what the client has agreed to.
• Care that continues past the first weeks, because change takes time.
• High standards for staff, in how they work and how they treat people.

The Blackburn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers treatment scholarships for up to 12 months. Ask about it on your first call. For a plain look at insurance and other ways to cover care, read our guide to paying for addiction and mental health treatment.

Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In an emergency, call 911.

For everything else, call us at (888) 305-5422 or email info@theblackburngroup.org.