Information For Families

California Parent and Youth Helpline

Call, text, or chat a live person to get emotional support and referrals in English, Spanish, and other languages, at 855-427-2736. Someone is always available from 8AM to 8PM, 7 days a week.

Supportive Resources

Visit our Supportive Resources page to search for resources in your neighborhood that can help with housing, healthcare, food, and more.

Crisis Support

Call or text 988 for free, confidential, and immediate mental health help for yourself, your child, or someone in your family.

Protective Factors

Did you know that every family has strengths that help their children thrive? We call these “protective factors.” There are proven steps parents can take to make their family even stronger. Protective factors include:

• Parental Resilience: The ability to deal with stress or trauma.
  
  
  
  
• Social Connections: Relationships with family, friends, and neighbors.
  
  
  
  
• Concrete Support in Times of Need: Resources to help during times of struggle.
  
  
  
  
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: Because children don’t come with instruction manuals.
  
  
  
  
• Social and Emotional Competence of Children: Helping children understand emotions in themselves and others.
  
  
  
  
• Nurturing and Caring Attachment: Create a caring connection with your children.

Watch a short video on protective factors!

Learn more about protective factors

The Thriving Kids Project

Information about DCFS

Being contacted by the LA County Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) because of a report about your family can be a scary experience. You don’t have to go through it alone.

Find more information about what to expect on the DCFS Investigations page.

• If your child has been placed in foster care, it is important to know that you still have rights as a parent.
  
  
  
  
• Parents in Partnership are parents who have been in your shoes. They successfully reunited with their children and now work in partnership with DCFS to help other parents through a warmline, support groups, and mentorship.
  
  
  
  
• Parent Resources: A collection of resources compiled by DCFS.
  
  
  
  
• Questions about what to do when DCFS has come into your life?  Contact an independent helpline for questions about DCFS.

Legal Help

Access to lawyers and other legal support can help to meet a family’s needs and prevent them from becoming involved with the child welfare system.

Find organizations in LA County that provide free or low-cost legal assistance and other resources to families.

• Legal support for former foster youth who are now parents.
  
  
  
  
• Focus on foster youth, housing, immigration, education, and more.
  
  
  
  
• Justice for children and families.
  
  
  
  
• Legal services and supports for people who have been incarcerated.
  
  
  
  
• Special focus on domestic violence.