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The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is the largest child protective services agency in the United States. Its origin is traced to 1891, when the Office of the Superintendent of Children’s and Women’s Work was established to provide services for destitute women and their children. In 1903, California established its first Juvenile Courts, with jurisdiction over dependent, neglected and delinquent children. In 1913, Los Angeles County formed the Department of Charities which, among providing other social services, had responsibility for child welfare. California's first mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting law was enacted in 1963, although it initially only required reporting by physicians. In 1984, child welfare services were tranferred from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (formed in 1966 from the Department of Charities) to the newly established Department of Children and Family Services.
| Year | Children Referred1 | Caseload as of Dec. 312 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 116,894 | 38,622 |
| 2019 | 154,018 | 35,087 |
| 2018 | 159,989 | 34,883 |
| 2017 | 170,054 | 34,485 |
| 2016 | 166,255 | 34,847 |
| 2015 | 172,896 | 34,881 |
| Year | Children Referred1 | Caseload as of Dec. 312 |
| 2014 | 179,605 | 36,273 |
| 2013 | 176,636 | 36,870 |
| 2012 | 181,827 | 35,195 |
| 2011 | 167,723 | 34,987 |
| 2010 | 170,471 | 33,795 |
| 2009 | 157,960 | 32,317 |
| Year | Children Referred1 | Caseload as of Dec. 312 |
| 2008 | 166,745 | 33,478 |
| 2007 | 167,325 | 36,632 |
| 2006 | 162,711 | 38,383 |
| 2005 | 156,831 | 39,364 |
| Age | 2020 | 2015 | 2010 | 2005 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Birth - 2 Years | 7,318 | 18.9% | 7,181 | 20.6% | 6,484 | 19.2% | 6,165 | 15.7% |
| 3 - 4 Years | 4,917 | 12.7% | 4,260 | 12.2% | 4,074 | 12.1% | 3,675 | 9.3% |
| 5 - 9 Years | 10,166 | 26.3% | 9,191 | 7.5% | 8,174 | 24.2% | 9,169 | 23.3% |
| 10 - 13 Years | 6,698 | 17.3% | 5,678 | 8.3% | 6,005 | 17.8% | 8,519 | 21.6% |
| Age | 2020 | 2015 | 2010 | 2005 | ||||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| 14 - 15 Years | 3,190 | 8.3% | 2,881 | 8.8% | 3,569 | 10.6% | 5,050 | 12.8% |
| 16 - 17 Years | 3,075 | 8.0% | 3,080 | 26.3% | 3,858 | 11.4% | 4,832 | 12.3% |
| 18 Years+ | 3,258 | 8.4% | 2,610 | 16.3% | 1,631 | 4.8% | 1,954 | 5.0% |
| Total | 38,622 | 100.0% | 34,881 | 100.0% | 33,795 | 100.0% | 39,364 | 100.0% |
| Ethnicity | 2020 | 2015 | 2010 | 2005 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 104 | 0.3% | 176 | 0.5% | 143 | 0.4% | 196 | 0.5% |
| African American | 9,030 | 23.4% | 8,763 | 25.1% | 9,732 | 28.8% | 13,218 | 33.6% |
| Asian / Pacific Islander | 670 | 1.7% | 660 | 1.9% | 806 | 2.5% | 1148 | 2.9% |
| Hispanic | 22,452 | 58.1% | 20,993 | 60.2% | 19,041 | 56.3% | 19,111 | 48.5% |
| Ethnicity | 2020 | 2015 | 2010 | 2005 | ||||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| White | 4,601 | 11.9% | 4,008 | 11.5% | 3,900 | 11.5% | 5,504 | 14.0% |
| Other | 1765 | 4.6% | 281 | 0.8% | 173 | 0.5% | 187 | 0.5% |
| Total | 38,622 | 100.0% | 34,881 | 100.0% | 33,795 | 100.0% | 39,364 | 100.0% |
* DFCS - Los Angeles County Department of Children’s & Family Services
1) Children referred to DFCS who are alleged to suffer from sexual, physical or emotional abuse, general or severe neglect, caretaker absence or incapacity or at-risk sibling abuse.
2) DCFS in-home & out-of-home services caseload as of December 31
Source: Los Angeles County Dept. of Children’s & Family Services
