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Univision 34

Food insecurity among Latinos in Los Angeles County

Joelle Wolstein May, research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, was interviewed on Univision 34 in Los Angeles, about what California Health Interview Survey data revealed about food insecurity among Latinx people in Los Angeles County and throughout California.
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Capital & Main

The least-bad option: A county sales tax to save California health clinics

California Simulation of Insurance Markets (CalSIM) data showing that 3 million fewer Californians are expected to be enrolled in Medi-Cal by 2028 was cited in this story.
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U.S. News & World Report

Reckoning with state and federal cuts, L.A. safety-net clinics push for a new tax

Enrollment in Medi-Cal could drop by 3 million by 2028 as a result of the federal and state spending cuts, according to an analysis by CalSIM, a joint project of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the University of California-Berkeley Labor Center. Originally published by KFF Health News.
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Medical Xpress

Jun 04, 2026

Study shows dangerous associations between drug and alcohol use and adolescent mental health

The story discusses a new UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study that found adolescents who use drugs or binge drink alcohol are more likely to experience psychological distress and have seriously thought of or attempted suicide.

Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)

American Diversity Report

Mar 08, 2026

DEI cutbacks and immigrant mental health

A UCLA Center for Health Policy Research study that showed that two-thirds of immigrants experiencing serious psychological distress did not receive treatment is cited.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)

The Daily Overview

Feb 17, 2026

22 million older Americans live solo with no kids and are being crushed by rising costs

Data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research's Elder Index was cited in this story about how millions of older Americans living alone with no children deal with financial precarity.
Features: Kathryn G. Kietzman, D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Elder Index™ (CEI)

Transvitae

Oct 01, 2025

UCLA report warns of unmet mental health needs in LGBT community

This story cited a recent UCLA Center for Health Policy Research policy brief showing that LGBT adults in California experience disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges compared to their non-LGBT peers.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), Health Equity Program

Investopedia

Aug 22, 2025

Social Security recipients struggle: Nearly one-third cut back on essentials amid rising costs

Imelda Padilla-Frausto, research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, discussed how a projected 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment to social security could leave many recipients with less buying power.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Elder Index™ (CEI)

Life Technology

Jul 23, 2025

Study reveals high psychological distress among California Native adults

This piece focuses on a recent study conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research that used pooled data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to reveal alarming rates of psychological distress among American Indian and Alaska Native adults in California. Also picked up in Medical Xpress and Mirage News.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto

Capital & Main

Feb 18, 2025

The Radio Show Taking on California’s Youth Mental Health Crisis

This story cites 2019 California Health Interview Survey data about differences between girls' and boys' experiences with serious psychological distress.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), Mental Health Program

LAist

Nov 15, 2024

Some immigrants in LA County struggle with post-election fear, anxiety. Here's where to seek help

According to a study published last year by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the percentage of immigrant adults in California with “serious psychological distress” increased by 50% between 2015 and 2021. The study defines serious psychological distress as severe, diagnosable mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), Mental Health Program

CalMatters

Jun 26, 2024

‘Excruciatingly slow’: Delays in workers’ comp payments harm firefighters, frustrate therapists

Imelda Padilla-Frausto, research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, shares how the long delays in receiving payments for treating patients with workers' compensation claims for mental health care treatment have pushed some doctors to no longer accept such patients.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, Mental Health Program

VoyageLA

May 20, 2024

Check Out Imelda Padilla-Frausto’s Story

In this Q&A, Imelda Padilla-Frausto shares her "non-traditional" journey from studying engineering and computer science at community college in central New Mexico to research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Features: D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, Mental Health Program