Family Reunification Week

 

 

 

		County of Los Angeles DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES   425 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, California  90020 (213) 351-5602
Board of Supervisors GLORIA MOLINA First District MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS Second District ZEV YAROSLAVSKY Third District DON KNABE Fourth District MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH Fifth District   PATRICIA S. PLOEHN, LCSW Director

 

 

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     February 23, 2010

 

Contact:  Neil Zanville

                 DCFS Office of Public Affairs

                 (213) 351-5886

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

LA County Proclaims March 1-7 "Family Reunification Week"

Families honored for reunifying with their children

 

 

Supervisor Gloria Molina, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed March 1 - March 7, 2010,  "Family Reunification Week."  The week-long celebration will honor families, who despite court-ordered out-of-home care placement for their children, successfully complied with specific court requirements and reunified with their children in their family home. Supervisor Molina initiated this first-ever honor following discussions with Michael Nash, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court.  Judge Nash wanted to honor those families that successfully navigated the Dependency Court system to emerge healthier, stronger and intact. 

 

At the regular March 2^nd Los Angles County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board will honor individuals and families that exemplify family reunification.  Board scrolls will be presented to mothers Maureen Rivas and Veoletter Bates Jones, fathers, Carlos Hernandez and Ronnie Burton, Jr., Children's Social Worker Kim Masinter, Court Appointed Special Advocate Michelle Vasquez and the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles for their significant family reunification accomplishments.

 

The week will promote family reunification efforts, successes and programs of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS),  a nationally recognized leader in child welfare reforms. Under the guidance of DCFS Director Patricia S. Ploehn, DCFS has made significant progress increasing the prospects for safe reunification by implementing innovative programs designed to utilize community-based resources which has resulted in the reduction of the number of children in foster care.  Each day during Family Reunification Week, DCFS will highlight different programs including Parents in Partnership, Wraparound Services, Family Preservation, Linkages, Visitation Centers and Drug Court that support families in their successful path toward reunification.

 

Director Ploehn stated:  "Our Department joins in offering our heart felt congratulations to those families that have made the safety and well-being of their children their number one priority. We are extremely grateful to Judge Nash for this innovative recognition acknowledging the successful efforts of thousands of families that have reunited and provided for the safety of their children.  We are equally indebted to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for actively supporting this week-long celebration, promoting the importance of family reunification throughout Los Angeles County. 

 

 

 

 

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