This March, as we spring forward into longer days filled with more light, we are also pleased to share our new report, Beyond Blind Removal. This report documents the blind removal pilot in two Los Angeles County DCFS offices and urges stakeholders to move toward actionable change for Black children and families. Read on for more on the report, our event with Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and other upcoming programming at the UCLA Pritzker Center!

In community,

The UCLA Pritzker Center Team

With the support of the Blue Shield Foundation of California, we are hosting a free three-part speaker series to change narratives, address misunderstandings about domestic violence and child welfare, and uplift new stories to drive structural changes for specific audiences in the child welfare and domestic violence communities.

We will provide an overview of domestic violence and the transition to mandatory supporting. Relevant laws and policy changes will be discussed and the role of law enforcement in domestic violence. Specifically for mental health an health care, we will discuss how domestic violence is handled in these environments for both children and results.

CE credits are available.

LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell responds to the report and urges ongoing shifts in child welfare system reform. Photo courtesy of the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

On March 8, 2024, the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families hosted a 120 guests at Mudtown Farms operated by the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) to announce the release of our report, Beyond Blind Removal. Special thank you to Los Angeles County Supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell, Brandon Nichols, Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza, Dr. Tamara Hunter, and Dr. Tyrone Howard for sharing insights on racial disproportionality in foster care.

(L-R): Dr. Tyrone Howard, Co-Director of the UCLA Pritzker Center; Brandon Nichols, Director of LA County DCFS; Holly J. Mitchell, 2nd District LA County Supervisor; Dr. Tamara Hunter, Executive Director of the Commission for Children and Families; Dr. D'artagnan Scorza, Executive Director of Racial Equity, Los Angeles County. Photo courtesy of the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

(L-R): Taylor Dudley, Executive Director of the UCLA Pritzker Center; Holly J. Mitchell, 2nd District LA County Supervisor; Dr. Tina Christie, Dean of the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies; Dr. Audra Langley, Co-Director of the UCLA Pritzker Center; Dr. Todd Franke, Leadership Team of the UCLA Pritzker Center; Dr. Tyrone Howard, Co-Director of the UCLA Pritzker Center. Photo courtesy of the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

Director of the LA County Department of Child and Family Services, Brandon Nichols and UCLA Pritzker Center Co-Director and UCLA School of Education & Information Studies Pritzker Family Endowed Chair of Education, Dr. Tyrone Howard,, engaged in a conversation about the report and discussed the report findings. Photo courtesy of the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

(L-R) First row: Dr. D’artagnan Scorza; Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell; Brandon Nichols; Second row: Taylor Dudley; Sophia Dsouza; Dr. Audra Langley; Mia Meza; Claudia Martinez; Dr. Laura Liévano-Karim; Dr. Tamara Hunter; Dean Tina Christie; Dr. Tyrone Howard;Third row: Ellis Eckles; Isabella Reina; Amanda Solis; Brittney Hun; Olivia Gilchrist; Tae Thompson; Dr. Brenda Tully. Photo courtesy of the Office of LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell

On March 2, advocates, stakeholders and young people filled Dodger Stadium with hope and possibility at the National Foster Youth Institute's Afternoon of Learning and Celebration. 

Founder of NFYI and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass presented Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman (left) with an award. We were pleased to celebrate this special day with friends and colleagues. Many thanks to NFYI for the opportunity to participate! 

“To me, I fundamentally believe that the best way to change, to improve or to transform policy is to have the people who are most directly involved at the table from the beginning.” - NFYI Founder, The Honorable Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles

We are proud to announce that we have been selected as one of the programs moving into the new UCLA Downtown site! We are honored to partner with UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, and Luskin School of Public Affairs to bridge our campus with the community in Los Angeles. Read more about UCLA Downtown in the article below!

The Youth Commission aims to support child welfare and juvenile justice systems by prioritizing and centering the voices of young people, and collaborates to enhance policies, programs, and services.

"In the field of education, the term “equity” at times seems to be omnipresent, just one more piece of education jargon, its use bordering on excessive. The reality however is that while equity is essential to educational opportunity, in many classrooms, schools, and districts, there is little understanding of the meaning and import of equity, its practice is limited, and meaningful and effective commitment to it is in short supply. In his new book, Equity Now, UCLA education professor Tyrone C. Howard, argues that the need for equity in education is urgent."

Report shows continuing disproportionality of Black and Brown children in the system, despite decrease in referrals and removals.