The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has the responsibility for handling all section 300 WIC cases. This includes intake, detention control, investigation, supervision and emergency medical services.
Requests for detained petitions shall be made through DCFS Intake and Detention Control at MacLaren Children's Center. Contact with DCFS shall be as follows:
The CAHL is responsible for taking all referrals regarding allegations of abuse or neglect or where a minor has been taken into custody by law enforcement. Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. referrals will be routed to the appropriate district office where a children social worker will be assigned to conduct an investigation into the allegations and/or take custody of a minor. After 5 p.m. all referrals regarding allegations of abuse or neglect and/or where a minor has been taken into custody by law enforcement will be handled by Emergency Response Command Post (ERCP), (323) 893-0500.
When detention appears necessary, Deputy personnel are requested to phone the DCFS intake worker to discuss the most appropriate available plan for the minor's immediate care.
The intake worker will take the information regarding the need for detention and will either designate where to take the child or will refer the call to an area office.
When a call is referred to an area office, the social worker should contact the detaining Deputy within approximately 20 minutes. If not contacted by that time, the Deputy should contact the Child Abuse Hotline coordinator again so that he may alert the area office. The worker at the area office will find a foster or good-neighbor home for the child.
Juvenile Hall Entrance Record forms should be filled out on all juveniles who are detained.