Grand jury says L.A. County must do more to protect at-risk youth
Los Angeles County officials must do more to protect, treat and support at-risk youths, according to an annual report released this morning by the county’s civil grand jury.
About 400,000 county residents between ages 12 and 24—defined as youth in the report—live in poverty, representing about a fifth of residents in that age group, the report said. Many of these youths rely on county child welfare, medical and employment programs that could be better coordinated to save money and protect children from abuse, the panel found.
The report highlighted the case of a 5-year-old South Los Angeles boy beaten and tortured by his mother for more than a year despite her repeated contact with county staff.
When the boy was discovered last June, his mother, Starkeisha Brown, was wanted for violating parole but had not been located by authorities—despite the fact that she was receiving welfare. County records showed she had been investigated and cleared by child welfare staff a few years earlier.
Brown’s son was removed from her only after a stranger found him and alerted authorities. The boy was immediately hospitalized and his mother arrested.
The grand jury noted that if county departments had better-coordinated electronic records, Brown’s son might have been removed sooner and spared further abuse.
“The county owes it to its children, families and taxpayers to save lives, ensure public safety and prevent fraudulent activity through the use of technology,” the panel wrote.
The panel urged county supervisors to develop the Family and Children’s Index, a computer system created years ago to allow various agencies—including child welfare, probation, courts, clinics and the sheriff’s department—to share information about children and their parents.
Many county staffers have failed to add information to the index, while others who tried to use it found their access limited because of privacy concerns. Supervisors plan to consider a new system tomorrow, spurred by reports in The Times about children abused and killed after being supervised by the county.
The panel specifically recommended that Family Services share patient records with the five county-run clinics where children under their supervision are treated. To better monitor children for signs of abuse, they also recommended that at least one social worker be assigned to each clinic. [Three clinics currently have social workers.]
The report also addressed conditions in the county’s 22 juvenile probation camps and halls, which house about 3,600 youths. After inspecting the facilities, panel members called for county officials to investigate senior management in the Probation Department this year. They also called for county officials to address numerous problems including mental health staffing, flawed evacuation plans and insufficient laundry facilities.
In addition, the grand jury found that the county could make better use of money intended to aid unemployed and homeless youths. They found that the county spent $45.5 million on youth job programs that served only 4% of poor youth in fiscal year 2007-08. At the same time, the county failed to spend $2.1 million in state and federal funds intended for youth employment.
Under the county budget approved last week, youth employment programs will be better coordinated to maximize funding, said Miguel Santana, deputy to the county’s chief executive.
Although most of the report focused on at-risk youth, the panel also recommended that the county do more to prevent senior abuse and neglect.
Supervisors were still reviewing the report this afternoon, spokesmen said.
“It gave confirmation that we’re making progress in children’s services, but certainly we still have a way to go to have a seamless system,” Santana said.
-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Garrett Therolf reporting from the County Hall of Administration
Related:
Read The Times' series on L.A. County's struggle to monitor children at risk for abuse and neglect:
Oh, I am so much in agreement with this mandate.... Some parents are simply dropping the ball with their children, and taxpayers are forced to pick up the bill for their delinquency. When the county allows it, probation departments ignore it, schools, and medical facilities dont report it, its a travesty.
If this would cover parents that allow their children out past curfews, excessive absenteeism from school, medical neglect. It would make a great impact.
Posted by: james | June 29, 2009 at 04:55 PM
I remember the dreadful treatment given this boy. Would it be possible to do a story on how the 5 year old is faring at present. How is he? What treatment has he received? Hopefully there will be some good news there...
Posted by: Andy | July 05, 2009 at 08:51 PM