There is created a department of the county of Los Angeles, which shall be known as the department of children and family services, (hereafter referred to in this chapter as “department”). (Ord. 94-0101 § 1, 1994: Ord. 84-0125 § 2 (part), 1984.)

The department shall be under the direction and management of the director, who shall be appointed by the board. The director shall appoint all employees of the department. (Ord. 84-0125 § 2 (part), 1984.)

The director shall perform those general duties regarding protective services to juveniles, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The director shall also perform all necessary actions to qualify the department to receive state and federal funds for the purpose of providing protective services to juveniles. (Ord. 84-0125 § 2 (part), 1984.)

Under the direction and supervision of the board, and subject to its direction, the additional duties of the director shall be as follows:
A. Formulation and implementation of department policy: To formulate departmental policy, direct its implementation and evaluate work accomplished;
B. Administration of children’s protective services: To direct the administration of children’s protective services, including family social work counseling, investigation of allegations of child abuse and neglect, protection of children remaining in their own home, around-the-clock emergency placement of children, and the supervision and care of children declared dependents of the juvenile court under Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code;
C. Operation of care and treatment facilities for children: To direct the operation of county residential care and treatment facilities for dependent or neglected children;
D. Administration of foster care and day care facilities: To direct the recruiting, reviewing and licensing of foster care and day care facilities for children;
E. Direction of decentralized children’s services and programs: To direct decentralized children’s services and programs through district offices and assure uniformity of standards and operations;
F. Administration of all adoption activities: To direct adoption casework activities, such as matching children with adoptive parents, coordinating interagency placement of children, securing court orders declaring children abandoned, and recruitment of foster and adoptive homes, including, but not limited to, all activities and functions of the former department of adoptions set forth in repealed County Code Chapter 2.38;
G. Direction of other protective services to juveniles: To direct such other functions regarding protective services to juveniles as the board of supervisors may from time to time ordain;
H. Rules and regulations to comply with federal and state law: The director shall adopt regulations and directives necessary to implement programs to provide protective services to juveniles in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The director shall also adopt regulations and directives necessary to qualify the department to receive state and federal funds for the purpose of providing protective services to juveniles. (Ord. 84-0125 § 2 (part), 1984.)

Employees of the department of children and family services, shall be under the direction of the director and shall perform all activities necessary to provide protective services to juveniles. Designated department employees providing services to juveniles shall be deemed to be social workers in a county welfare department, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 215 and 326. The department shall be deemed to be a county welfare department for providing services under the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code Section 272. (Ord. 94-0101 § 2, 1994: Ord. 84-0125 § 2 (part), 1984.)

A. “Group homes” are those facilities defined in Title 22, California Administrative Code, Section 80001(a)(28).
B. Any group home which provides services to children pursuant to a contract with the county of Los Angeles is required to obtain and maintain in full force and effect comprehensive automobile liability insurance with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence. Such insurance shall be primary to and not contributing with any other insurance governing the county, and shall name the county of Los Angeles as an additional insured. Such insurance may include a deductible no greater than $1,000.00 per occurrence. Such insurance shall be provided by insurer(s) satisfactory to the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 85-0138U § 1, 1985.)

Effective January 1, 1994, the department shall charge a stepparent adopting a child pursuant to Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 13 of the Family Code, Sections 9000 et seq., a maximum of $700.00 for all reasonable costs incurred in connection with the investigation required by Family Code Section 9001. The department may defer, waive, or reduce the fee if its payment would cause economic hardship to the prospective adoptive parent detrimental to the welfare of the adopted child. (Ord. 94-0045 § 1, 1994.)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the department shall charge a prospective adoptive parent adopting a child pursuant to Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 13 of the Family Code, Sections 8800 et seq., fees as follows: (A) for petitions filed from March 5, 1993, through June 30, 1993, a maximum of $500.00 before the filing of a favorable report in court, and (B) for petitions filed on or after July 1, 1993, a maximum of $1,250.
The department may defer, waive, or reduce the fee when in its judgment the payment would cause economic hardship to the prospective adoptive parents and would be detrimental to the welfare of the child. (Ord. 94-0045 § 2, 1994.)