Case/Care Management

The agency provides child protective services for children age 18 and younger throughout Los Angeles County who are reported victims of child abuse, neglect or exploitation, and their families, in order to protect the child and to assist abusive or neglectful parents to improve their parental functioning. This is the administrative office for Child Protective Services; no direct services are offered at this location. Age restrictions apply for services; there are no geographic restrictions.

All intake for reporting child abuse is done through the Child Protection Hotline.

The services provided by the Regional offices include accepting reports of physical, emotional, or sexual child abuse or neglect from Child Protection Hotline staff; conducting in-person investigations of alleged abusive situations; developing a case plan that is appropriate for the family; providing information regarding foster care eligibility and recruitment and providing ongoing casework supervision and placement services, as necessary. Children may be eligible for emergency shelter care; therapeutic day treatment; or educational, medical, or emancipation services.

If foster care is required, staff place children with immediate or extended family members, in foster family homes or group home facilities, or in a temporary emergency shelter. Supportive services are provided to family members and other individuals providing temporary foster care. Staff assist children in establishing a long-term, family home environment, and provide family reunification services; and assistance with adoption plans, legal guardianship issues, or long-term foster care.

The DCFS Medical Hub Program provides medical and mental health assessment and forensic services for children in the care of Protective Services and in the foster care system. Services are provided at five regional health centers: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles; High Desert Health System; LA County/USC Medical Center Violence Intervention Program; Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center KIDS Clinic; MLK Jr. Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center; and Valleycare Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

The agency also offers a Foster Youth Info Line (FYIL) to provide children and youth in out-of-home care with a venue to discuss various issues related to placement. The Foster Youth Info Line is staffed by two former foster youth, one male and one female, and are supervised by a CSW. These youth take calls from current foster youth to talk, discuss and/or resolve issues. Foster youth callers will be able to obtain information on their rights as a foster youth and how to file a placement grievance when necessary. Should the youth have a service issue or procedural concern, the youth will be directed to the appropriate resource such as the child's attorney or CSW. Children can maintain anonymity when calling.

The Public Information section provides general information about DCFS and its programs and policies. The staff offer information by phone, by public service announcements and news releases, and by a speakers bureau that can address community groups.