With the unpredicted shortage of foster homes, some of the L.A. County leaders are finding facilities that could care for youths under the county’s protection.
The county’s Department of Children and Family Services was reported by The Times last month for counting on unlicensed hotel rooms to take care of youths who couldn’t find a home.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, one of five elected officials who runs one of the largest child welfare systems in the nation, said she felt that violence was inevitable.
On Wednesday, according to the county’s child welfare department, five foster youths were staying in hotel rooms and other children were placed in former detention facilities and office buildings. Barger said the department is out of options. “We have no placement for them,” the supervisor said in an interview.
Barger said that she’s not very comfortable with the county placing youths in hotels. She worried that it could be dangerous for both staff and the youths they are overseeing.
“We need to push the state to rethink the issue surrounding licensed secure sites in the state of California,” said Barger, “Because when you have a total of less than 50 beds available for youth … we have a problem.
But L.A. County politicians say hotel rooms remain the choice for the foreseeable future.
“We don’t have any other option at this point,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
“Having to choose between our foster youth staying in hotel rooms instead of the streets is a last resort,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell.
The county’s Department of Children and Family Services was reported by The Times last month for counting on unlicensed hotel rooms to take care of youths who couldn’t find a home.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, one of five elected officials who runs one of the largest child welfare systems in the nation, said she felt that violence was inevitable.
On Wednesday, according to the county’s child welfare department, five foster youths were staying in hotel rooms and other children were placed in former detention facilities and office buildings. Barger said the department is out of options. “We have no placement for them,” the supervisor said in an interview.
Barger said that she’s not very comfortable with the county placing youths in hotels. She worried that it could be dangerous for both staff and the youths they are overseeing.
“We need to push the state to rethink the issue surrounding licensed secure sites in the state of California,” said Barger, “Because when you have a total of less than 50 beds available for youth … we have a problem.
But L.A. County politicians say hotel rooms remain the choice for the foreseeable future.
“We don’t have any other option at this point,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said.
“Having to choose between our foster youth staying in hotel rooms instead of the streets is a last resort,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell.
