A significant majority of the homeless population in California and specifically, Los Angeles County are in dividuals who have recently been discharged fr om an institution or care facility. These systems all lack comprehensive planning strategies which result in an increased likelihood that individuals exit ing the system will become homeless. Equipped with little or no tools to ensure their successful reentry, they often become overwhelmed and have difficulty maintaining the gains made throughout treatment and placement.

The following chapters will discuss best practice s for discharge planning in four of the institutions with severe shor tcomings in Los Angeles; m ental health and co-occurring disorder treatment facilities, hospita ls, foster care and jails/prisons.