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LA County’s Strategic Hub for Faith Engagement – Better Together
Partnering for stronger, more resilient neighborhoods.
Mission
To serve as the strategic hub for LA County’s faith engagement, cultivating resilient partnerships by supporting departmental outreach efforts, maximizing access to County resources for Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), and building the capacity of our faith communities.
Vision
LA County’s most vulnerable residents are supported by a coordinated, resource-mobilized, and resilient partnership where the County government and diverse faith communities work as one to achieve well-being across all neighborhoods.
To serve as the strategic hub for LA County’s faith engagement, cultivating resilient partnerships by supporting departmental outreach efforts, maximizing access to County resources for Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), and building the capacity of our faith communities.
Looking to partner with the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership? Email us: faithoffice@ceo.lacounty.gov
We would love to hear from you. Please share your feedback with the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership, faithoffice@ceo.lacounty.gov.
County Priorities
As an office within the CEO collaborating with the Center for Strategic Partnership (CSP), the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership (OFBNP) will align its work to facilitate the faith community’s contribution and involvement in advancing LA County Board Directed priorities.
Faith Community Spotlight
Coming soon!!
The Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership is pleased to spotlight examples of a successful faith-based partnerships. This Countywide collaboration strongly aligns with our vision of achieving well-being for LA County’s most vulnerable residents through coordinated efforts. Check back monthly to see what partnership is being highlighted!
Faith Community Spotlight
Pastor John L. Jefferson and Del Aire Baptist Church
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Faith-Based Section is proud to highlight Pastor John L. Jefferson and Del Aire Baptist Church for their unwavering commitment to the Hawthorne and South Bay communities. This collaboration exemplifies the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership’s vision of fostering well-being for the county’s most vulnerable residents through coordinated, compassionate action.
Pastor Jefferson, the lead pastor at Del Aire Baptist Church, is a recognized “trailblazer” in community healing. His impact is rooted in decades of personal and professional dedication:
- Foster Care Advocacy: He has served as a foster parent for over 20 years, specializing in the care of high-risk youth.
- Mentorship: He provides direct counseling and mentoring to at-risk youth and families within his community.
- Leadership: His work has been formally recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
The partnership between DCFS and Del Aire Baptist Church focuses on child protection and family reunification. By supporting the LA County Faith in Motion Initiative, Pastor Jefferson provides essential infrastructure and services to help families stay together or safely reunify:
- Family Visitation Centers: Providing a safe space for supervised visits for DCFS youth and families.
- Specialized Support: Active participation in the Community Cultural Broker Program and Father Engagement Support.
- Collaborative Growth: Engaging in quarterly DCFS Faith Collaboratives to build capacity with other mission-aligned organizations.
Beyond family services, Pastor Jefferson has joined forces with The Los Angeles Regional Food Banks to tackle hunger.
- Frequent Distribution: Del Aire Baptist Church hosts food giveaways three times a week.
- Direct Impact: These distributions provide a full week’s worth of groceries to families in need throughout the Hawthorne and South Bay areas.
The DCFS Faith-Based Section remains committed to this partnership, with future goals focused on expanding community collaborations and securing additional funding to support even more DCFS families.
For more information on this partnership, please contact Dominique Robinson, Program Manager at robind@dcfs.lacounty.gov.
News & Events
Faith Appreciation Month – October 2026
Faith Appreciation Breakfast 2025 co-hosted by Foster All & the Faith Alliance.
May 20, 2026, LA vs Hate Newsletter – Statement on the Islamic Center of San Diego Shooting
Our hearts mourn with the families and communities who were impacted by the horrifying and hateful shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Muslim people are valued members of our communities, and we condemn all acts of hate targeting anyone in LA County.
The most recent 2024 LA County Hate Crime Report indicated that hate crimes targeting Muslims in LA County are the highest we’ve ever seen. We stand in solidarity with our Islamic community and urge everyone in LA County to come together to stop Islamophobia, racism, and hate.
Every person has the right to gather with others of their faith, free from being targeted by hate or discrimination. If you or someone you know is seeking support, call 211 or visit LAvsHate.org for help.
Thank you for your support of LA vs Hate and for your dedication to building an inclusive Los Angeles County for all.
For more information, please reach us at info@lavshate.org.
May 7, 2026, Los Angeles County Day of Prayer
On May 5, 2026, the Board of Supervisors passed a proclamation to establish a “County Day of Prayer” in Los Angeles County and to align it with the Federal designation – held on the first Thursday of May each year.
“The County Day of Prayer offers an opportunity for all County residents, regardless of faith and background, to stand together and reflect on shared values such as compassion, unity and service. These shared values strengthen the bonds among the residents of Los Angeles County. The County recognizes the importance of fostering mutual respect and honoring the diversity of beliefs held by its residents and affirming the right of each individual to observe this day in a manner consistent with their own conscience.”
About Us
Mission
To serve as the strategic hub for LA County’s faith engagement, cultivating resilient partnerships by supporting departmental outreach efforts, maximizing access to County resources for Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), and building the capacity of our faith communities.
Vision
LA County’s most vulnerable residents are supported by a coordinated, resource-mobilized, and resilient partnership where the County government and diverse faith communities work as one to achieve well-being across all neighborhoods.
Goal
To cultivate a strategically aligned, coordinated and streamlined partnership between LA County departments and the faith community, ensuring support for initiatives that drive successful outcomes for the County’s core priorities.
Background & Mandate
The establishment of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership (OFBNP) is a direct response to directives from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) motions and is grounded in comprehensive community analysis.
- BOS Motion (May 17, 2022): “Coordinating Faith-Based Outreach by County Departments” directed the CEO to analyze and coordinate faith-based efforts across departments, focusing on a less siloed approach to service delivery.
- BOS Motion (Oct 3, 2023): “October as Faith Leader Appreciation Month” Declared October as Faith Leader Appreciation Month and encouraged all County Departments to establish ways to recognize partnerships with Faith Leaders, celebrate their contributions and strengthen their networks.
- Motion Document: Motion
- BOS Motion (January 23, 2024): “Coordinating Faith-based Outreach in Los Angeles County” directed the CEO to explore and report back on establishing a dedicated Community Engagement Office (now OFBNP) to serve as a hub for both internal coordination and external interfacing with FBOs.
- IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICE FOR COORDINATED FAITH OUTREACH Establishing a Community Engagement Office in the CEO (September 24, 2024)
- Motion Document: 195526.pdf
- Report Back: Implementing a Community Engagement Office for Coordinated Faith Outreach (January 6, 2025)
The OFBNP structure is informed by 12 community listening sessions (KH Report) and a landscape analysis of successful governmental/faith-based models.
Our Team
Latrice Jones, MPA & MSL
Director, Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnership
Tamara Sanders
Staff Assistant
Email: FaithOffice@ceo.lacounty.gov
County Faith Initiatives & Departments
Goal: Provide information on County Faith Initiatives & Departments
Department of Children & Family Services
The partnerships between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) play a vital role in promoting the well-being of families and youth. Established in 2020, the LA County Faith in Motion Initiative aims to foster collaboration between DCFS and FBOs to strengthen communities, support healthier families, and enhance self-sufficiency. Engaging faith partners is essential for DCFS to effectively meet the needs of children, youth, and families, ultimately improving their outcomes and success.
Programs or initiatives that FBOs can engage with:
- Recruit Foster and Adoptive Parents
- Host a Visitation Center
- Support Father Engagement
- Join CarePortal
- Support Transition Age Youth (TAY)
- Become a Community Cultural Broker
- Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
- Promote the Heart Gallery
- Host a Party of Special Event
- Support a DCFS Regional Office
Contact Info:
Dominique Robinson, DCFS Faith-Based Program Manager
robind@dcfs.lacounty.gov
(213) 864-6487
Department of Mental Health
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s (LACDMH) mission is to optimize the hope, wellbeing and life trajectory of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable residents through access to mental health care and resources. LACDMH programs and services promote individual and community wellbeing, positive mental health outcomes, community reintegration and connectedness for individuals served. LACDMH actively partners with faith-based organizations as they are trusted spaces where individuals and families seek support during times of emotional or spiritual distress. LACDMH and Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) have regional collaboratives, that meet monthly, in which community faith leaders and LACDMH representatives meet for cross training, networking, community supports, resource sharing, and identifying strategies that integrate spiritual supports with mental health services. LACDMH actively seeks out representatives from diverse communities of faith to provide input and feedback on the mental health system and the programs and services that make up the mental health continuum of care in Los Angeles County and the intersection with faith.
Programs or initiatives that FBOs can engage with:
- Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Community Planning Team (CPT)
- Faith-Based Advisory Council (FBAC): Capacity Building Projects
- Service Area Clergy Roundtables
- Service Area Clergy Breakfasts
- Service Area Leadership Teams (SALTs)
- Underserved Cultural Communities (UsCCs) Committees:
Access for All UsCC
American Indian/Alaskan Native UsCC
Asian Pacific Islander UsCC
Black and African Heritage UsCC
Eastern European/Middle Eastern UsCC
Latino UsCC
LGBTQIA2-S UsCC - Annual Collaborative Events and Conferences with other Los Angeles County Departments
Contact Info:
Behavioral Health Services Act –
Administration Division Community & Stakeholder Engagement Unit
Dr. Darlesh K. Horn, DPA, Division Chief
Dhorn@dmh.lacounty.gov
(213) 943-8475
or for more information, please contact: communitystakeholder@dmh.lacounty.gov
Department of Homeless Services & Housing
Homeless Initiative/Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness
Understanding that faith-based organizations (FBOs) play a pivotal role in homeless services, the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative (HI) started convening faith communities in 2016. In 2019, HI tasked LAHSA to convene the Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness (FCEH) to coordinate partnership efforts with FBOs across Los Angeles County and develop a strategic plan to align FBO homeless services with Los Angeles County’s homeless service delivery system. FCEH consists of faith leaders, homelessness liaisons, and leads from various County agencies and elected offices.
Programs or initiatives that FBOs can engage with:
- The FCEH believes that the faith community is an extremely underutilized resource goal is to develop a formal and wide-ranging strategy for inviting and sustaining communities of faith to be fully integrated partners in ending homelessness.
- The eight Faith-Based Regional Coordinators (FBRC) provide leadership and support to systems alignment initiatives between the faith-based community in their SPA and the Coordinated Entry System.
- Monthly faith leader convenings
- Faith cohorts (education & action): affordable housing, advocacy, prevention, outreach
- Capacity building workshops
- Faith Summits
- Technical assistance
Contact Info:
Department of Homeless Services & Housing
LColchado@hsh.lacounty.gov
(213) 435-6316
Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness (FCEH)
Daniel Perez; Amara Ononiwu
lafceh@gmail.com
(213) 524-5905
Los Angeles County Fire Department
The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Chaplain program provides support as a ministry of presence during a crisis. The program maintains a list of faith-based resources that are utilized when functioning as a bridge to spiritual resources for its members of various different faiths.
Programs or initiatives that FBOs can engage with:
Members of the faith community (FBO’s/HoWs, etc.) who would like to be added to the list of faith-based resources for the Fire Department’s Chaplain program may send an email to vince.roldan@fire.lacounty.gov
Contact Info:
LA County Fire Department
Fire Captain Vince Roldan, Lead Chaplain
vince.roldan@fire.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles County Library
Faith, Culture, and Community-
LA County Library welcomes people of all cultures, faith, and beliefs. We aim to offer programs that reflect this diversity and plan to inform, educate and celebrate all the communities we serve. We hope to give people of all beliefs a chance to see themselves represented in programs and provide opportunities to celebrate their beliefs and explore their own and other cultures and traditions.
Programs or initiatives within the agency/department that FBOs can engage with.
- Library hosted Interfaith Conversations: https://lacountylibrary.org/faith-culture-community/
- Cultural Resource Centers: https://lacountylibrary.org/cultural-resource-centers/
- Meeting Room Reservations: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/reserve
- Local History: https://lacountylibrary.org/local-history/
- Library Services: https://lacountylibrary.org/locations/
Contact Info:
Steven Park, Assistant Library Administrator
spark@library.lacounty.gov
(562) 306-9615
Probation Department
Community Relations – Volunteer in Service to Others (VISTO)
The department has a strong history of partnering with religious organizations within our institutions. All religious services and instruction strictly adhere to the rights of youth and their parents. These services are conducted under the auspices of the Archdiocese Office of Restorative Justice and the interdenominational Protestant Chaplain’s Eagles.
Programs or initiatives that FBOs can engage with:
Volunteer Chaplain Program
- Sunday worship services
- Weekly bible studies
- One-on-One religious counselling
- Special activities- concerts, car/bike shows, BBQ’s and special holiday events.
- Distribution of bibles and other religious materials
- Clergy visits
Contact Info:
Shakeitha Ruttlen
Shakeitha.ruttlen@probation.lacounty.gov
562-940-2515
Department of Public Health
The OVP crisis response program Faith based leaders learning community collective. To foster healing, hope, and restoration in communities impacted by violence and crisis, by bringing together faith leaders, county agencies, and residents in a shared learning space grounded in compassion, service, and spiritual wisdom.
Programs or initiatives that FBOs can engage with:
- Faith-based Learning Community Collective – Monthly meeting held with faith-based leaders and lay leaders to foster and discuss how the Crisis Response program can cultivate a network of faith-based organizations and public partners dedicated to sharing knowledge, building trust, and coordinating compassionate action.
- Trauma and Grief Informed Care trainings through the lens of faith- A 4-week workshop designed to equip faith leaders with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to foster trauma-informed communities and provide compassionate support to individuals and families navigating grief and loss.
Contact Info:
Charlotte Robinson-Perkins, Crisis Response Coordinator
CRobinson-perkins2@ph.lacounty.gov
(626) 293-2992
Partnership Opportunities
Coming Soon!
Initiate a Partnership
Goal: Centralized Intake for FBOs.
Direct Liaison: Online form for FBOs/HoWs to submit proposals, share their capacity, or request a meeting to discuss partnership opportunities.
Feedback
Goal: Gather community input.
Direct Feedback Form: The standing, accessible mechanism for FBOs/HoWs not represented in formal alliances to provide direct input to the OFBNP (as per Strategic Priorities).