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In recent weeks, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has been a leading voice in calling attention to the dangers that children face while home and out of the line of sight of mandated reporters like teachers, counselors and medical personnel.

Now, more than ever, DCFS is committed to strengthening its partnerships with other county departments to meet the needs of vulnerable families.

DCFS continues to partner with law enforcement to ensure the safety and well-being of children which requires real-time collaboration with social workers in the field to respond to emergency reports of child abuse and domestic violence, cross reporting allegations of child abuse and sharing information to better understand family dynamics.

Collaboration with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) also is vital to provide critical mental health services to families through the joint assessment and provision of treatment services to children and youth. This also includes the delivery of specialized foster care services by DCFS-DMH staff for youth with intensive mental health needs.

DCFS also continues to work with the Department of Public Health and public health nurses to connect children and families with telehealth and medical resources.

The department is committed to working closely with county partners and other allies in the child welfare community to promote innovative methods that ensure the safety of children during this pandemic and beyond.

The department has been actively engaged in a robust public information campaign whereby residents have been called to make an investment into the welfare of families in our communities by reporting abuse or neglect to the county’s Child Protection Hotline (1-800-540-4000).

To further advance this initiative, DCFS has issued a new public service announcement in English and Spanish aimed at generating greater awareness of how community members can get involved. The two-minute PSA will run on Ch. 36 and may also be viewed on Facebook (facebook.com/lacountydcfs) and Twitter (@lacountydcfs).

“LA County’s most vulnerable families are under immense stress,” DCFS Chief Deputy Director Ginger Pryor, who is featured in the video message, said. “Pressures deriving from school closures and limited childcare options, fewer social connections and stressful mental health states.”

“The rising unemployment rate, mounting financial obligations and food insecurity, also are among the challenges placing families at greater risk,” she added. “We need the help of observant friends and neighbors to ensure children remain in safe and healthy environments.”

“Our department remains committed to supporting families during these challenging times.” Chief Deputy Director Pryor said. “We’ve invested nearly $20 million in prevention and aftercare services since our last fiscal year to help strengthen families by imparting knowledge and skills for successful parenting. This includes introducing families to core competencies like child development, parental resilience and social connections.”

Social workers rely on mandated reporters to initiate contact when neglect or abuse are suspected. With this safety net no longer in place, DCFS is urging Los Angeles County residents to help social workers prevent child abuse before it happens.

On average, the county’s Child Protection Hotline receives about 1,000 daily reports. In recent weeks, however, there has been a decline in calls of up to 50 percent.

This is deeply concerning to the department and it is not an issue for social workers alone. In a county of 10 million inhabitants, DCFS needs every resident to be attentive and watchful to ensure children remain safe at home.

Click here to view DCFS’ public service announcement in English or here to view it in Spanish.

As LA County’s communities of color remain the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, communities of color in Los Angeles County are at a higher risk for exposure to the virus because many cannot work from home, cannot afford to miss a day of work, and often have jobs that require interacting with large numbers of people. Communities of color are on the frontlines of this pandemic: they work in health care, agriculture, transportation, restaurants, grocery stores, delivery services, and many other fields that make our country strong.

As of this afternoon, the Department of Public Health had identified 23,182 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 1,111 deaths.

• Race and ethnicity are so far available for 99% those who died:
  • 38% of deaths occurred among Latinx residents,
  • 28% among White residents,
  • 19% among Asian residents,
  • 13% among African American residents,
  • 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents,
  • and 1% among residents identifying with other races.

“Many of our hardest working families are either uninsured or underinsured and do not normally seek access to health care, which is why increasing access to COVID-19 testing sites remains one of my top priorities,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “We know that widespread testing will help flatten the curve. In addition, preliminary demographic data has revealed that LA County’s communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. I have worked diligently to remove barriers to testing and to expand access in diverse socioeconomic communities. I’m pleased all essential workers regardless of symptoms can be tested. That includes our first responders, healthcare professionals, grocery workers, and critical government workers. Asymptomatic individuals who are either over 65 or have chronic underlying health conditions can also be tested. For all LA County residents being tested for COVID-19, immigration status and health insurance are never requested or taken into account.”

There are now 35 drive-up testing sites throughout LA County. They are safe, free, and do not require proof of medical insurance. If you have symptoms such as difficulty breathing or a high fever, or are a first responder, please make an appointment at the website covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or dial 2-1-1 to find a neighborhood testing site near you. You must have an appointment for a test, but there are many time slots available—including same-day, or next-day appointments.

There are also resources for people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, but do not have health insurance. If you are having difficulty breathing or have a high fever, you can dial 2-1-1 to find a neighborhood clinic near you. You may also qualify for My Health LA, a free health care program with a network of more than 200 community clinics for low-income LA County residents who are 26 years or older. Undocumented immigrants qualify for My Health LA. Call 844-744-6452 for information on how to enroll.

Supervisor Solis also reminds L.A. County families that a healthy start in life begins with getting immunized to prevent diseases. Starting, and staying, on schedule with recommended immunizations protects our children from diseases that can spread easily and that can cause serious health problems, especially during this public health crisis.

To ensure the care of our newborns and young children, we ask that families keep up with child immunizations for preventable diseases like hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and whooping cough. L.A. County doctors and healthcare providers are taking steps to make sure their clinics and offices are safe spaces where families can bring their children in for their immunizations.

The priority is newborn care and the immunizations of infants and young children (through 24 months). We also ask that everyone – including teenagers and adults – continue with routine immunizations. Call your provider to learn how they have modified their spaces and their schedules in order to bring children in for their immunizations. As always, visit covid19.lacounty.gov or dial 2-1-1 for more assistance.