Foster Care Information and Links
Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services: http://dcfs.co.la.ca.us
Center for Social Services Research/Child Welfare Research Center: http://cssr.berkeley.edu/CWSCMSReports
California Courts: www.courts.ca.gov/
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: www.ncjfcj.org
National Association of Counsel for Children: www.naccchildlaw.org
Casey Family Programs: www.casey.org
Annie E. Casey Foundation: www.aecf.org
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation: www.hiltonfoundation.org
W.M. Keck Foundation: www.wmkeck.org
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation: www.rmpf.org
Stuart Foundation: www.stuartfoundation.org
California Community Foundation: www.calfund.org
California Family Health Council, Inc.: www.cfhc.org
Children’s Defense Fund: www.childrensdefense.org
Los Angeles County Children Planning Council: www.childpc.org
Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth, and Their Families: www.ccyf.org
Los Angeles Education Coordinating Council: www.educationcoordinatingcouncil.org
National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues: www.abanet.org/child/home2.html
Foster Ed Connect: www.fosteredconnect.org
Resources for Youth
Fostering Connections to Success Act (AB 12/212) Useful Links
- Federal Fostering Connections Resource Center: A collection of information and resources related to furthering the implementation of the Fostering Connections law. http://www.fosteringconnections.org/
- California Fostering Connections: A collection of material and information relating to the implementation of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act (AB 12/212), including legislative history, previous training material, updated ALL County Letters regarding extended foster care, as well as general information on the state implementation process of AB 12/212. http://www.cafosteringconnections.org/
- After 18: Your Future, Your Choice: A youth friendly link that includes links to a Facebook page about the CA Fostering Connections to Success Act, as well as information material designed to assist youth in learning more about this new law. http://www.after18ca.org/
- CalSWEC AB 12 Training Material: Regional Training Academy Coordination Center that contains training resources that have been developed to
support implementation of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act.http://calswec.berkeley.edu/CalSWEC/OtherTraining_AB12.html
Foster Youth Help (Foster Care Ombudsman): www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov
California Youth Connection: www.calyouthconn.org
LA County Emancipation Program and Independent Living Services Website: www.ilponline.org
Domestic Violence Prevention: www.breakthecycle.org
Teen Line – Teens Helping Teens: www.teenlineonline.org
Planned Parenthood: www.plannedparenthood.org
Gay & Lesbian Services Project: 323-993-7670
Teen/LA at Legal Aid of Los Angeles: 323-980-3500
MTV Teen Sex Info: www.itsyoursexlife.com
Family PACT: www.familypact.org
Emergency Contraception: 888-NOT-2-LATE, www.not-2-late.com
County Health Department: 800-339-6993 or 211 (24 hours)
LA Free Clinic/Teen Clinic: 323-337-1775
Adoption & Foster Care
Adoption.com - Comprehensive resource for adoption information.
California Association of Adoption Agencies - Represents licensed public and private adoption agencies that recognize the importance of comprehensive and lifelong services to members.
California Youth Connection - An advocacy/youth leadership organization for current and former foster youth.
Caring for Another Person's Child - A guide for non-parent caregivers in Los Angeles County (downloadable PDF).
CASA of Los Angeles - Supports volunteers who help abused and neglected foster children in court and the community.
Children's Action Network - Children’s Action Network (CAN) uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children’s issues and to make them a top priority in everyday life.
Foster Club - National network for youth in foster care.
Foster Parent Community - Comprehensive resource site for foster parents.
Kinship Center - Places foster children and infants for adoption.
My Life My Rights - Public Counsel's website for Los Angeles foster youth.
SOS Children’s Villages - Offers an innovative alternative to foster care by providing children with safe, permanent families and homes.
Westside Children's Center - Provides a full range of services including foster care and adoption, family support, family preservation and prevention.
Housing
Do you need immediate help finding temporary housing?
Many emergency shelters will provide safe housing, food, clothing, medical care, counseling, and other supportive services to assist homeless, at-risk youth. Many shelters only allow certain groups of people such as men, women, families, LGBT, pregnant teens etc... Keep in mind, emergency housing shelters will only provide you with a temporary living situation.
Emergency Shelter Phone Numbers
211 - referral line for housing, food, employment, health care and more.
1-800-548-6047 - Shelter Hotline
1-800-843-5200 - California Youth Crisis Line
Transitional Housing Programs
Transitional Housing Programs provide additional services to help you prepare for living on your own. If you are out of foster care and on your own, but still need and want guidance and support, this is the type of housing for you.
These programs exist to not only give you a roof over your head, but to help get you ready for independent living. They typically provide counseling and mental health services, career training and educational guidance, daily life skills instruction, and much more.
Some transitional housing programs are geared towards specific groups of foster youth such as those with serious mental health issues, parents, single mothers, pregnant teens, GLBT youth and so on.