Recommendation R2.9.1
To improve communication and understanding between all members of the resource family including foster youth and involved agency workers, DCFS, DMH, and to shorten adjustment periods when there is racial disparity between a child and the foster family, social worker or mental health clinician assigned to care for the child: Create or purchase short cultural awareness training modules for each specific culture as it becomes more prevalent in foster care. Each training module should go beyond cultural sensitivity and include practical information about a given culture such as hair care for Black children, common foods and recipes, traditions, celebrated events and family dynamics. The short training modules may be added to standard training when necessary. They should also be available online so foster families, social workers and clinicians can learn at their convenience.
Jury report: Los Angeles County Foster Care · PDF page 140
Permanent linkOfficial response
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (consolidated County departmental response)
Agency says implementedFor the shared cultural-understanding objective, County partially disagrees. DCFS claims existing RHAS/FPC/FKCE resource-parent training, including on-demand courses and Black hair care. DMH describes its own cultural training, rejects necessity of short modules, and plans UCLA collaboration. Response does not establish identical practical online modules for families, social workers and clinicians.
Read official response · PDF page 32Editorial engagement review of the answer, not confirmation of implementation. For the shared cultural-understanding objective, County partially disagrees. DCFS claims existing RHAS/FPC/FKCE resource-parent training, including on-demand courses and Black hair care. DMH describes its own cultural training, rejects necessity of short modules, and plans UCLA collaboration. Response does not establish identical practical online modules for families, social workers and clinicians. Report physical PDF page(s) 140; County response physical PDF page(s) 32–33. Claims remain attributed; adoption date is not a filing or receipt date.
- DMH will continue UCLA Center of Excellence collaboration to assess needs and develop staff/contractor training; it does not accept mandatory short-format modules. Owner: Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (consolidated County departmental response). Timing: Not specified.
This review evaluates the response document. Implementation claims have not been independently verified.