National Foster Care Awareness Month highlights the needs and experiences of children and youth in foster care while acknowledging the dedication of caregivers , social workers and advocates. This month serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children and youth in the foster care system and encourages support for policies and initiatives that promote their wellbeing and long-term stability.
Resources
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
This is the website for our local child welfare agency that provides support and services to families in need within Los Angeles County, while ensuring the safety of our children and youth, by working collaboratively with communities to keep children at home whenever possible.
Department of Public Social Services
This local government agency is responsible for providing a wide range of social and economic support programs to individuals and families in need. One vital part of their program is providing residents of L.A. County with food and nutrition resources such as the LA Regional Food Bank, ¡Más Fresco!, CalFresh and much more.
County of Los Angeles Probation Ombudsman
The Ombudsman program serves as a confidential and impartial resource for probation youth, their families and the community. They investigate complaints informally, aiming for efficiency and fairness.
LA County Foster Youth Bill of Rights
This website provides information on the Los Angeles County Foster Youth Bill of Rights and available services for children and youth in foster care. The site offers youth-friendly resources to help individuals understand their rights, access support within Los Angeles County.
Alliance for Children's Rights
The Alliance is dedicated to ensuring stability and support for children in foster care and those vulnerable to entering it. They work to connect these children with crucial services like healthcare, education, and housing. When reuniting with biological parents isn't feasible, the Alliance for Children's Rights supports permanency through adoption and legal guardianship. For young adults transitioning out of foster care, they provide programs and advocacy to promote independence.
California Foster Youth Education Task Force
This group of more than 100 dedicated professionals collaborates to improve educational outcomes for students in foster care throughout California. One key resource this group creates is the California Foster Youth Education Law Fact Sheets, which include seven fact sheets covering topics such as school stability, school discipline, graduation exemption requirements and who can make educational decisions for children and youth in care..
Los Angeles County Office of Education, Foster Youth Services Summer Guide
This annual summer guide is provided to LEAs and community partners throughout Los Angeles. Our team has gathered resources from L.A. Countywide as well as those specific to their region. Some resources in this guide are summer programs offered through the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, private non-profits that offer free summer camp experiences, summer bridge programs and guidance on preventing summer melt.
This toolkit provides resources, information and ready-to-use materials to support awareness efforts throughout May. It is designed to help LEAs and partners engage their communities, share key messages, and highlight the experiences of children and youth in foster care.
211 LA advertises its program as "the hub for community members and community organizations looking for all types of health, human and social services in Los Angeles County." Services are available 24 hours a day by phone, website or chat. They offer community events, connections, special programs and care coordination, and have a database of over 50,000 health and human services.
