Child and Family Well-Being

For more information, call the KidsLine at 877-792-KIDS (5437).

Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB is committed to excellence in the delivery of culturally competent, family-centered and child-focused protective services. CFWB investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and intervenes with families who do not meet the minimum community standards of health and safety as required by law. Investigations are conducted in a thorough and professional manner. Family interventions are completed in the least intrusive manner necessary for the protection of the child. In addition to these services, CFWB administers the following: Polinsky Children’s Center, a 24-hour facility for the temporary emergency shelter of children; San Pasqual Academy, a first-in-the-nation residential education campus for adolescent foster youth; foster care eligibility and licensing; group home placement services for foster youth with emotional and behavioral issues; services to emancipating foster youth; adoptive home assessments and placements; and critical support services to regional operations.

Child and Family Well-Being

The County of San Diego has developed the Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) Department to fundamentally shift how children, youth, families, and communities are supported. We want to prevent children and youth from entering the child welfare system and create a partnership with families, leveraging their experience, to hold them as the experts in keeping their children safe.

Services offered by Child and Family Well-Being:

Adoptions

County of San Diego Adoptions serves all members of the adoption triad: adoptees, birth families, and adoptive parents. Both voluntary relinquishments, and adoptions of children from the foster care system, are handled by the agency. Free, no-obligation orientations are available for those interested in learning more about available services, including, ongoing, professional education and training classes about adoption issues.

Career/Volunteer Opportunities

Are you inspired to see children and families thrive and want to work with culturally mindful, dedicated professionals? This may be the place for you! CFWB is committed to strengthening families by providing trauma-informed prevention and protection services to vulnerable children, their families, and communities across the county to reduce child abuse and neglect.

Child Abuse Hotline

Are you worried that a child is being abused or neglected? Call 858-560-2191 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Within the state of California, call toll free 1(800) 344-6000.

Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board

The Board of Supervisors has taken a strong leadership role in supporting efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. The efforts focus on strengthening families by identifying and addressing the needs of children and youth who are in the public charge as well as those whose safety and welfare may be at risk.

Child Welfare Improvements and the COAS

The County of San Diego Child Welfare Improvements was developed to respond to the California Outcomes and Accountability System (COAS). This was formerly known as the California-Child and Family Service Review (C-CFSR).

Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) Policy Manual

Policies for Child Welfare practice.

Child Welfare Records Request

Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) Resources for Families

Resources available for Families

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Human Trafficking)

Human trafficking is the second largest underground economy in San Diego, at an estimated $810 million annually. When minors under age 18 are trafficked, this is child abuse. We usually identify girls as victims of trafficking, but boys and youth of all genders are regularly targeted. If you or someone you know needs help, please call our Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 344-6000. Caring, trained people are available 24 hours a day.

Data

Available data reports include the Annual Statistics Report and the CFWB Dashboard.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Foster and Adoptive Resource Family Services

At any given time, there are about 2,100 children in out of home care and about 30 children awaiting permanent adoptive placement in the County of San Diego.

COVID-19 FAQs for Caregivers

COVID-19 FAQs for FFAs and STRTPs 4/9/20

COVID-19 FAQs for FFAs and STRTPs 4/20/20

COVID-19 Resources

Foster Parent Request for MyChart Proxy Access

Foster Youth Help

Foster Youth Rights Handbook

Foster Youth Rights Handbook (Spanish)

Foster Youth Bill of Rights Coloring Book

Foster Youth Bill of Rights Coloring Book (Spanish)

Foster Youth Poster

Foster Youth Poster (Spanish)

Foster Care Services Committee

To meet monthly with representatives from community-based organizations and County programs that directly impact foster families.

Family Urgent Response System (FURS)

FURS includes a 24/7 Statewide Hotline and a 24/7 County-based Mobile Response and Stabilization Team. FURS will provide current and former foster youth (up to age 21) and their caregivers with immediate, trauma-informed support by caring and trained professionals when they need it.

Independent Living Skills

Independent Living Skills is a program designed to assist 16 to 18 year olds who are in out-of-home placement and are likely to remain there until they can live on their own.

Ombudsman

The County of San Diego Child and Family Well-Being takes your concerns seriously and handles them with the utmost diligence. Depending on the nature of your concern, we have three options to handle the issue most effectively:

CFWB Office of the Ombudsman
Resource Parent Ombudsman
HHSA Business Assurance and Compliance

If you are a foster youth and want to elevate your concerns while in foster care, please contact the California Foster Care Ombudsperson at (877) 846-1602, or fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov.

Polinsky Children's Center

The A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children's Center is a 24-hour facility for the temporary emergency shelter of children who must be separated from their families for their own safety, or when parents can not provide care.

Polinsky Children's Center (PCC) Advisory Board

The PCC Advisory Board shall consist of five members, all of whom shall be residents of the County of San Diego.

Relative Notification

Child and Family Well-Being is committed to the importance of relatives and the role they play in a family’s life. Relatives provide important family and lifelong connections for children involved with Child and Family Well-Being. Relatives can provide critical support when the mother and father cannot.

Respite Services

The County of San Diego Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) values our collaborative partnership with Resource Families and recognizes both the importance of providing supportive services and the unique needs of Resource Families. We understand that the role of the caregiver can be challenging and that supportive services are vital to success.

Safe4Baby

Safe4Baby focuses on educating parents and caregivers about four primary areas: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Safe Sleeping, Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Safely Surrendered Baby Law.

San Pasqual Academy

San Pasqual Academy, a first-in-the-nation residential education campus designed specifically for foster youth, serves as a placement option for dependents of the Juvenile Court, 12-17 years old, and Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs) up to age 19 years old.