A month ago, the county’s Department of Children and Family Services depended on unlicensed hotel rooms to take children without families home. Los Angeles has been facing an unmatched shortage of foster homes, so County leaders are asking the fast-track facilities to care for the troubled youths for the county’s protection.
Kathryn Barger, a County Supervisor who was one of the five elected officials, said that she felt the need for hotel rooms was not avoidable.
Barger and the other supervisors were a bit desperate because the department was out of options. Barger in an interview said that they had no placement for the youths.
Changes were needed in state law right in the county’s hands. Barger also said that she wasn’t comfortable with the county putting youths in hotels because she’s worried that it would be dangerous for both staff and the foster youths they are taking care for.
In 2015, a landmark law was signed by Jerry Brown that would move the state away from group homes and make it more important to put young people with more trusted people like relatives or foster families. This could prevent sexual abuse and violence in group homes across California.
Barger said that they need to push the state to rethink the issue surrounding licensed secure sites in the state of California. Barger got her start in county advising. Barger then said that they had less than 50 available beds for the youth, and that was a problem.
People wanted to make sure there was a place for foster youth. So, Scott Murray, a spokesperson (someone who communicates information the public wants or needs) for the California Department of Social Services, said, “The agency is working with counties to ensure that every foster youth has a place that will support them.”
The supervisors knew that youth who must live apart from their biological parents do best when they are cared for.
Supervisors were practically choosing between hotel rooms and the streets. They didn’t really have an option.
Supervisors Holly Mitchel and Janic Hahn said they wanted to see the state get better licensing options to help youths in hotels better like the Intensive Treatment Foster Care Homes. The Intensive Treatment Foster Care Homes take young people who need more support than others.
The Count’s child welfare department showed only a small bit of youths who live in hotels and they’re between the ages of 18 and 21. People who are normally there have substance abuse, mental health disorders, generational trauma and have been separated from their families which is a pity.
The statewide issue of youth in unlicensed care was no longer.
Kathryn Barger, a County Supervisor who was one of the five elected officials, said that she felt the need for hotel rooms was not avoidable.
Barger and the other supervisors were a bit desperate because the department was out of options. Barger in an interview said that they had no placement for the youths.
Changes were needed in state law right in the county’s hands. Barger also said that she wasn’t comfortable with the county putting youths in hotels because she’s worried that it would be dangerous for both staff and the foster youths they are taking care for.
In 2015, a landmark law was signed by Jerry Brown that would move the state away from group homes and make it more important to put young people with more trusted people like relatives or foster families. This could prevent sexual abuse and violence in group homes across California.
Barger said that they need to push the state to rethink the issue surrounding licensed secure sites in the state of California. Barger got her start in county advising. Barger then said that they had less than 50 available beds for the youth, and that was a problem.
People wanted to make sure there was a place for foster youth. So, Scott Murray, a spokesperson (someone who communicates information the public wants or needs) for the California Department of Social Services, said, “The agency is working with counties to ensure that every foster youth has a place that will support them.”
The supervisors knew that youth who must live apart from their biological parents do best when they are cared for.
Supervisors were practically choosing between hotel rooms and the streets. They didn’t really have an option.
Supervisors Holly Mitchel and Janic Hahn said they wanted to see the state get better licensing options to help youths in hotels better like the Intensive Treatment Foster Care Homes. The Intensive Treatment Foster Care Homes take young people who need more support than others.
The Count’s child welfare department showed only a small bit of youths who live in hotels and they’re between the ages of 18 and 21. People who are normally there have substance abuse, mental health disorders, generational trauma and have been separated from their families which is a pity.
The statewide issue of youth in unlicensed care was no longer.
