Optimist Youth Homes and Family Svcs (OYHFS)

The agency provides mental health and case management services to children in its Foster Family programs through a contract with The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. These services are also provided to Medi-Cal clients from the community who are not otherwise associated with other Optimist programs. We engage in several evidence-based practices. Our clinics are located in Los Angeles, Palmdale and Woodland Hills. This service is designed for early intervention to prevent placement in out-of-home care. OYHFS provides mental health and case management services to youngsters placed in Barry J. Nidorff Juvenile Hall (Sylmar) as requested by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. In addition, we provide FSP (through our Palmdale clinic) and WRAP services (through our Woodland Hills outpatient clinic) as well as school based mental health services in many schools throughout the County.The agency served 892 clients during the fiscal period.

The agency has a foster-adopt program with a philosophy based on finding temporary nurturing homes in the community to house abused and neglected children to avoid institutionalization, while plans that are more permanent are being formulated. Trained social workers recruit, train and certify resource parents and provide follow up services to those parents as well as to the children placed in the resource homes. Referrals are from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and occasionally from the L.A. County Department of Probation. Optimist also assists the County in the assessment process for their County operated resource families. The agency has an adoption program, enabling children already in its resource homes to be placed in permanent homes through the adoptions process. OYHFS believes that permanence in terms of children's services is paramount to the child's future well-being.We served 66 children and youth in resource families.

Our Short-term Residential Therapeutic Program STRTP program has two locations: In FY 21-22 we had 4 community homes with 6 beds each (Eagle Rock, Mission Hills, Van Nuys, and Carson). Clients are referred by Los Angeles County Departments of Probation or Children and Family Services. The residents all have trained social workers assigned to them, who formulate individualized treatment plans together with the Child and Family Team which includes case manager, family, county worker, educator etc. We follow the core practice model, treatment is trauma informed, and evidence-based practices are utilized.The agency served 53 youth in the STRTP program. A Temporary Shelter Care Facility TSCF licensed for 16 girls is also located on the Woodland Hills campus. The agency served 198 youth in the TSCF program.