Building the Foundation: A Single Pathway to Support

Monrovia partnered with Care Solace to create what every community needs but few have: a reliable, 24/7 pathway to mental health, substance use, and social service support that actually works.

Care Solace exists to calm the chaos of the mental health care system and remove barriers that prevent people from getting connected to care. When someone reaches out, they don’t get a list of links. They get a real person who can help them take the next step.

Here's how it works:

Real Impact: When the Eaton Fire Changed Everything

Then the Eaton Fire hit.

Suddenly, the questions weren’t only about therapy access or long waitlists. Residents were looking outside and seeing hillsides on fire, wondering if evacuation was imminent and what they were supposed to do next.

In January 2025, Monrovia saw significant spikes in requests connected to wildfire victims. What began as a partnership focused on mental health access quickly evolved into something broader. Residents needed immediate, actionable guidance:

• Mental health support during and after trauma
• Emergency housing resources and stabilization options
• Crisis services and urgent next steps
• Support for neighboring community victims as impact spread beyond city boundaries.
  

Care Solace stepped in and provided critical support in real time, connecting affected residents to mental health care, housing resources, and crisis services exactly when they were needed most.

"What started out as mental health care access, well now we're actually responding and helping wildfire victims in neighboring communities."

Since launch, Monrovia has seen 9,730 service requests:

Why This Model Works During Recovery

Disaster recovery isn't linear. Needs shift, often quickly, then repeatedly, over the weeks and months that follow. A family might need emergency housing one week, trauma counseling the next, and help navigating insurance claims the week after that.

Monrovia leaders recognized an essential reality: the solution that helps a resident today may not be the solution they need next month. A coordinated response must be built to evolve.

“What we have to be prepared for is the needs of the community are going to change over time.”

That's what made Care Solace the right fit: a partnership designed to adapt as needs shift, whether that means supporting mental health access in everyday moments or mobilizing resources after a community emergency.

Building a Coordinated Community Response

Monrovia's story offers a clear lesson for cities everywhere. Resilience is not only about responding in the moment. It is about making support easy to access before crisis hits home.

A coordinated community response starts with a simple goal: create one trusted pathway and make it easy for the entire community to use and share.

Here is what cities can replicate:

1. Create One Front Door: 

   Residents should not have to guess which department to call or where to begin. One clear pathway reduces confusion and speeds up support. When everyone knows where to send people, and that pathway actually works, help happens faster.

2. Make It Human: 

   In crisis, information alone is not enough. People need guidance to move from overwhelm to action. Live navigation bridges that gap, helping residents take concrete next steps when they are least able to figure it out alone.

3. Activate Trusted Touchpoints: 

   First responders, librarians, community center staff, and city employees are already on the front lines of community well-being. Equipping them with a reliable pathway increases reach and consistency without requiring them to become experts in mental health systems.

4. Plan for Needs That Expand Beyond Mental Health: 

   Crises create layered, intersecting needs. Cities need systems that connect residents to social services, housing resources, and recovery support, not just one category of care. Mental health does not exist in isolation from housing stability, food security, or economic stress.

5. Make Access Available Before It Is Urgent: 

   The best time to learn how to get help is before you need it. Prepared communities normalize support early and make it easier to act later. When crisis strikes, residents already know the number to call, the pathway to follow, and the help that is available.

"It's all just part of creating a more resilient and prepared community that over time is also a healthier community."

Looking Ahead

Monrovia’s partnership with Care Solace started with a simple insight: if city leaders struggled to navigate the system, residents shouldn’t be expected to do it alone, especially in the middle of a crisis.

By building a reliable, 24/7 pathway to support, Monrovia strengthened everyday access to care. And when the Eaton Fire started, that same pathway helped the community connect to urgent services, stabilize faster, and recover together.

Because when crisis hits home, a coordinated response isn’t a nice-to-have.

It’s a lifeline.

Next Success Story