Peer Counseling

The agency provides family support services for parents with children who have been removed from their care and seek to regain custody in Los Angeles County. Services include parent peer counseling for parents, parent support groups for parents without custody and parents with child abuse issues, and peer to peer networking. There are no geographic restrictions.

The Parents In Partnership (PIP) is a peer program that provides advocacy and support for parents involved with the DCFS system. Volunteer parent partners who have been through the system themselves are available in person and by telephone, to provide information and help identify support resources. The program includes orientation classes, support groups and advocacy during Child Family Team (CFT) meetings. Staff may also assist birth parents to remove barriers that may prevent family reunification through education, support and mentoring.

The PIP program has volunteers based in DCFS regional office lobbies and operates telephone warmlines at the Belvedere, Chatsworth, Compton, El Monte, Glendora, Lancaster, Metro North, Palmdale, Pasadena, Pomona, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, South County, Torrance, Van Nuys, Vermont Corridor, and West LA DCFS offices.