County Board of Supervisors Vote to Take Over Child Welfare, Probation

After nearly four years of management under CEO Wlliam Fujioka, the Los Angeles County child welfare and probation departments were turned over to direct oversight of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The board voted 3-2 to take control of the county’s department of children and family services, which has 19 locations throughout Los Angeles County, including .

The departments of children and family services, which oversees foster care, and the probation departments, which manages juvenile delinquents, has been plagued by system failures and controversies following cases of neglect and maltreatment.

Supervisors Michael Antonovich, Gloria Molina and Zev Yaroslavsky voted in favor of the ordinance enabling the shift in control, while Supervisor Don Knabe made an effort to postpone the decision. Knabe argued that the Fujioka was given control of the departments in 2007 so they could be run more efficiently. Knabe and supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas both voted against the action.

Fujioka’s problems to correct the deliverance of services for children throughout the county has been notorious, leading to contention between Fujioka and members of the board of supervisors.

Recent reports of children dying of maltreatment following cases of county oversight, as well as complaints by Molina and Yaroslavsky regarding their inability to obtain unfiltered information from Fujioka contributed to the board’s decision.

While some contend that progress has been made regarding the safety of children placed in foster care, supervisors claim that the progress in correcting systematic failures has been excruciatingly slow.

Antonovich, who represents Glendora in the 5th district, voted against the 2007 ordinance giving the CEO expanded control.

However, the five supervisors did not offer explanation on how they will run the departments following their decision.

The decision comes while both Fujioka and Probation Chief Donald Blevins propose laying off 200 probation employees and staff members, initiating a protest by dozens of union employees.

City News Service contributed to this report.