dcfs.co.la.ca.usLos Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services | Promoting child safety and well-bein

Who We Are What We Do Who We Work With Career Opportunities Contract Opportunities Volunteer Opportunities Resources Informational Materials and Handouts Data and Monthly Fact Sheets Reports DCFS Policy Manual Compliance Reports Glossary Foster Care Search System News DCFS Updates In the News Newsletter Events Contact Report Child Abuse Regional Offices Media Inquiries FAQs Parents Parent Resources DCFS Investigations Parental Rights Child Placement Court Proceedings Path to Reunification Youth When To Call DCFS Education DCFS Investigations Jobs & Internships Know Your Rights Healthy Relationships Foster Care Placements Teen Parenting Personal Documents LGBTQ+ Youth Health & Mental Health Immigration Juvenile Justice Teens 16 and Older Caregivers Become a Foster Parent Adopt a Foster Child RFA Conversion Rights & Responsibilities Relative Caregiver Resources Foster Parent Resources Financial Assistance Meet LA Foster Youth Search for: ☰ Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services Child Protection Hotline (800) 540-4000 Search for: About Who We Are What We Do Who We Work With Career Opportunities Contract Opportunities Volunteer Opportunities Resources Informational Materials and Handouts Data and Monthly Fact Sheets Reports DCFS Policy Manual Compliance Reports Glossary Foster Care Search System News DCFS Updates In the News Newsletter Events Contact Report Child Abuse Regional Offices Media Inquiries FAQs How Can We Help You? General What is child abuse? What is the difference between discipline and abuse? What are the signs of abuse and neglect? What are the effects of child abuse and neglect? Why do adults abuse children? Why should I report child abuse or neglect? How do I file a complaint or grievance? Parents What happens when a report is made to the DCFS Child Protection Hotline? Will my child have to leave my home? Am I in trouble with the law? How do I get a copy of my court records? How can I prevent being separated from my child? Where will my child live if they are removed from my home? Can I visit my child while they are away from home? How long before I can be reunited with my child? I’m having trouble at home. How can I get help? Can I connect with other parents who have been through this? I can’t reach my social worker. What do I do? Youth My parents are hurting me. What should I do? I can’t stay with my family. Where am I going to live? How do I get information about my case? Why was I taken from my home? When can I see my parents? I am having trouble accessing food. What should I do? What are my rights as a youth in foster care? I need to go to the doctor. What should I do? I am pregnant. What should I do? Can I live on my own as a foster youth? How can I get a job? How do I get copies of my birth certificate and other personal documents? How can I get a cell phone or computer? My case has ended. Can I still get help? Who do I talk to if I have a problem? Caregivers What is the role of a foster parent? How do I become a foster parent? What is the RFA Process? How do I convert to RFA if I am already a foster parent? What are my responsibilities as a foster parent? Can I afford to take care of a child? I’m not sure if I’m ready to foster a child. What can I do to try it first? What happens if the child in my care gets sick? I have a full-time job. Can I still take care of a foster child? How do I get information about the child’s case? A child in my family is in foster care. Can I become their caregiver? I am a grandparent. Can I take care of my grandchild? Can I adopt a child in my care? Parents Parent Resources DCFS Investigations Parental Rights Child Placement Court Proceedings Path to Reunification Youth When To Call DCFS Education DCFS Investigations Jobs & Internships Know Your Rights Healthy Relationships Foster Care Placements Teen Parenting Personal Documents LGBTQ+ Youth Health & Mental Health Immigration Juvenile Justice Teens 16 and Older Caregivers Become a Foster Parent Adopt a Foster Child RFA Conversion Rights & Responsibilities Relative Caregiver Resources Foster Parent Resources Financial Assistance Meet LA Foster Youth Welcome to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services promotes child safety and well-being by partnering with communities to strengthen families, keeping children at home whenever possible, and connecting them with stable, loving homes in times of need. Safety The safety of over two million children in Los Angeles County is our highest priority. DCFS responds to the immediate needs of any child at risk of abuse and neglect in Los Angeles County. Well-Being DCFS partners with more than 50 community-based organizations across Los Angeles County to provide the tools and support families need to make home a safe place and keep families together. Permanency Every child deserves to grow up in a loving and stable family environment. For children who cannot return home, DCFS makes every effort to connect them with resource families, so they can continue to grow and thrive. Parents As a parent, receiving a call or visit from DCFS can be concerning. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, in crisis, or just need support to parent your children, DCFS is there to help ensure that your children are safe. Investigations Child Placement Parental Rights Parent Resources Court Proceedings Path to Reunification Meet Miranda MEET Miranda The first time Miranda and her family received a site visit from their family preservation case worker, they were living in a motel. The in-home outreach counselor conducted her sessions in the motel, in a the single large room crowded due to the number of family members staying there. Despite the circumstances, the family maintained hope. Miranda had just started a job and her family felt confident that they could move from their motel to an apartment shortly – and shortly thereafter, they were right. But right after moving, Miranda’s husband decided to leave the family, leaving Miranda with five children to raise alone, without enough money to afford rent for the apartment they had just moved to. A few weeks after the father left, DCFS announced that each family preservation agency would get one Section 8 voucher for one of their families and Miranda and her four children were the lucky recipients. IHOC was able to work with Miranda for two days and complete the entire application and assist in the additional paperwork required. Miranda and her family had to overcome the massive amount of paperwork and information that is required on the application for Section 8 housing. Miranda stayed motivated, even though she barely had any time between working and caring for her five children, and accepted help where needed. The IHOC cleared her schedule so she could be available to assist the mother as best as she could in order to meet the deadline for completing the application. *In order to protect the anonymity and privacy of our families, names have been changed and photos are randomized. Close Youth Being in foster care can be difficult. Whether you need assistance with school, employment, living independently or you are looking for more resources, we can point you toward the information you need. You deserve to be heard, and we are here to listen. Should I call DCFS? Know Your Rights Investigations Teens 16 and Older LGBTQ+ Youth More… Meet Sarah MEET Sarah At just 10 years old, Sarah struggled with her weight, diabetes and depression. She was getting bad grades, and didn’t have the support she needed to make the lifestyle and behavioral changes necessary to lead a better life. Sarah entered the system due to neglect from her family. Her mother is disabled posing challenges in Sarah’s care, so her social workers have utilized Sarah’s older sister to support and assist the mother and father in supervising Sarah’s medication. Her social workers were...