A new California State Auditor report has found serious failures within the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), revealing that the agency routinely leaves children in unsafe and abusive environments for extended periods. The audit, released Tuesday, highlights delays in investigations, incomplete safety assessments, and cases where social workers falsely reported home visits without ever checking on the children.

Delays in Investigations Leave Children at Risk

DCFS, the largest child welfare agency in the nation, handles around 35,000 active cases at any given time. In 2023, the agency received 225,000 calls reporting potential child abuse or neglect, leading to 137,000 investigations. However, state law requires that DCFS begin these investigations within either 24 hours or 10 days, depending on the severity of the case. The audit found that out of 30 reviewed cases, only 19 met that requirement.

In one particularly alarming instance, a social worker attempted to contact a family once but failed to follow up. As a result, it took 151 days—nearly five months—for DCFS to find the children and remove them from an unsafe situation.

Failure to Remove Children from Dangerous Homes

The audit also found that DCFS often fails to intervene, even when there are clear signs of abuse. A striking example is the case of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, who died in 2018 from severe head injuries and cigarette burns. Law enforcement and social workers had documented a history of abuse in the home, yet the agency never permanently removed him.

Additionally, the report found that DCFS struggles to complete investigations within the mandated 30-day window. In the cases reviewed, only nine were completed on time, while some dragged on for more than 90 days. One case remained open for over 400 days before action was taken.

Inaccurate and Incomplete Safety Assessments

The audit found that DCFS social workers frequently filed inaccurate or misleading reports. Of the 30 safety assessments reviewed, five failed to recognize or address clear threats in the home. In three cases, social workers filled out safety reports claiming the child’s home was safe—despite never having visited.

Some reports also omitted critical risk factors, such as past incidents of domestic violence or previous abuse investigations. These failures allowed children to remain in potentially dangerous situations.

Neglecting Background Checks and Home Inspections

DCFS is required to conduct background checks and home inspections before placing children with relatives, but the audit found that these steps were frequently ignored. In one instance, a child was placed with a relative, yet the agency failed to complete a required background check for nearly 800 days—more than two years.

Additionally, auditors discovered that social workers failed to conduct required in-home visits to check on children’s well-being. In some cases, social workers copied and pasted nearly identical reports for months, raising doubts about whether they had visited the homes at all.

Recommendations for Reform

The audit outlined several urgent steps DCFS must take by November to address these failures:

• Set clear deadlines for follow-ups to ensure children are not left in dangerous situations.

• Implement tracking systems to monitor whether home inspections and background checks are completed.

• Ensure regular and documented in-home visits to verify child safety.

• Review community organizations that conduct home environment assessments to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

DCFS Director Bobby Cagle, who has led the agency for 18 months, acknowledged the audit’s findings and committed to making improvements. “We should be welcoming of anybody who looks at our work with a critical eye,” he said.

Cagle also emphasized the need for better oversight and plans to reduce the number of cases per supervisor to ensure more thorough reviews. “We are making strides in many areas,” he stated. “Our concern is that we provide the best quality, timely services.”

As scrutiny on DCFS continues to grow, child welfare advocates and government officials will be watching closely to see whether the department follows through on these recommended reforms—or continues to leave vulnerable children at risk.