Linkages Los Angeles County

A Service Partnership to Strength Families

the Department of Public Social Services &
Department of Children and Family Services

The problems facing children and families often take more than one agency’s resources and expertise to address.  In April 2005, the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) joined the Statewide effort Child Welfare and CalWORKs Partnership Project, also known as Linkages, that was designed by the California Center for Research on Women and Families (CCRWF).  The Linkages model is aimed at fostering practices to integrate child welfare and public assistance programs in California, and to increase prevention services.  The Los Angeles County Linkages model is focusing on the following four opportunities for integration:

1. Family Preservation Services for Welfare-to-Work Participants
2. CalWORKs Family Reunification Services (AB 429)
3. DCFS Screening Tool for Potential Eligibility to DPSS Programs (English or Spanish)
4. Integration of CalWORKs expertise into DCFS Team Decision Meetings

Common challenges for families in the child welfare system or on public assistance (CalWORKs):

1. Strong link between poverty and child abuse/safety and well-being issues.
2. Many families have multiple needs that no one department alone can fully address.
3. Families feel overwhelmed and stressed by multiple, competing child welfare and public assistance requirements.
4. Service fragmentation limits families’ success.
5. Integrating the service systems help families achieve self-sufficiency and child safety.

Benefits of DPSS and DCFS working together:

1. DPSS resources and services are available for DCFS clients.
2. Communication between DCFS and DPSS will enhance the service experience and improve stability of mutual clients.
3. DCFS and DPSS can share information without any breach of confidentiality.
4. More access to services and economic supports helps families stabilize faster and result in shorter lengths of DCFS involvement and lower caseloads.

To develop the necessary infrastructure to sustain Linkages at the countywide level at DPSS and DCFS, the Linkages Planning Committee (LPC) was established and Linkages coordinators were identified from each department.  The LPC manages such issues as policy development, training, service coordination, and evaluation. 

Linkages planning efforts are currently being implemented in Service Planning Area (SPA) 2 at the North Hollywood DCFS and Burbank/East Valley DPSS offices, the DCFS Metro North Office and corresponding DPSS offices serving SPA 4, as well as the Torrance DCFS office in SPA 8.  The LPC will also be responsible for the development and delivery of countywide training for all DCFS locations and the corresponding DPSS sites throughout the County.  The roll-out will occur in a phased approach began in 2007. 

For more information on the Linkages model visit: www.cfpic.org

Contact us

Lesley Blacher
Phone: (213) 974-4603
E-mail:  lblacher@ceo.lacounty.gov