Steps to Independent Living

Childcare Resource and Referral Services
(800) kids-793 / (800) 543-7793
Child Care Resource Center: (818)756-3360
Child and Family Services: (213)427-2700
Connections for Children: (310)452-3202
Crystal Stairs: (323)299-0199
Center for Community and Family Services: (310)605-1770
Child Care Information Service: (626)449-8221
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation: (323)890-9616
Children's Home Society of CA: (310)816-3600
Options: (626)856-5900
Pomona Unified School District: (800)822-5777
L.A. Unified School District Early Childhood Education: (213)625-6506
L.A. County Office of Education/Head Start Programs: (562)940-1770
Women, Infants and Children (WIC): (888)942-9675
Department of Rehabilitation
Department of Rehabilitation is the state agency that provides vocational and occupational training for youth -- 16 and older -- and adults with disabilities. Their local telephone number is (323) 731-6311.
If you are a member of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, here are some resources to help you navigate the greater Los Angeles area.
Medically Fragile Youth
The Medical Placement Units (MPU) within the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) provide services to medically fragile children throughout Los Angeles County. The goal of the Units is to place medically fragile children, referred to the Department for abuse and neglect, in the most home-like/least restrictive environment.  For more information, please call (626)938-1740/1761/1793 (in Covina) or (213)639-4050/4089 (in L.A.).
Links Related to Good Health and Pregnant & Parenting Teens

  • Teenwire - For general questions about sex/pregnancy.

  • I Wanna Know - For questions regarding sexually transmitted diseases.

  • Sex, etc. - A website by teens for teens.  Includes such topics as girls' health, guys' health, birth control and condoms, and teen pregnancy.

  • Planned Parenthood

  • Teens' Health - Health information for girls and guys, STDs and other infections, birth control, etc.
Regional Center
Regional centers are nonprofit private corporations that have offices throughout California to provide a local resource to help find and access the many services available to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
SSI Youth
Supplemental Security Income - For youth, who have a diagnosed physical or mental disability, federal assistance is provided by the Social Security Administration. However, application needs to occur early as it can take approximately six (6) months to process an application. If you are a wishing further information, contact the Children's Social Worker or the Social Security Administration or call Covina Foster Care at (626)858-1208.

L.A. County Seal
Brought to you by the Los Angeles County
Youth Development Services Division and Independent Living Program (YDSD/ILP) L.A. COUNTY TRANSITION PARTNERSHIP

Thank you for visiting our Youth Development Program website.  Please continue to contact us with your comments and suggestions.  We need and welcome your participation to make this site a vibrant source of information for all youth transitioning from foster care in Los Angeles County.  If you have information to share on our site or experience a problem with the site (e.g. nonfunctioning link),  Please contact Jennifer Chuang via email at chuanj@dcfs.lacounty.gov

The Youth Development Program receives a set budget every year from state and federal government sources.  Resources are distributed according to need and not as an entitlement. Since the budget is limited, please note that the services and benefits described in this website are available to eligible transitioning youth 16 - up to their 21st birthday in Los Angeles County, on a needs-basis, until all funds are spent for the fiscal year (the fiscal year ends June 30th).  There are some services available for youth 14 - 15.  Some of the resources are listed for your information and ARE NOT to be considered an endorsement by Los Angeles County.