to our many supporters and friends for your prayers, generosity, love and support for the past twenty-one years.

On March 30, 2010 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to terminate United Care’s foster family agency contract with the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) following the death of a foster child in a United Care certified foster home.

As a twenty-one (21) year partner in good standing with LA County DCFS, we were devastated by the Board’s decision and their action; thirty-one (31) foster children died in foster care in LA County in the past two years, two (2) in foster family agencies and twenty-nine (29) in DCFS supervised homes, currently United Care is the only foster care agency the County closed.

We have not always agreed with DCFS’ policies especially when we believed their policies were not in the best interests of foster children or their caregivers; and as a good partner we respectfully expressed our ideas and opinion(s) to DCFS management. We did not expect to be treated so unfairly especially when other foster care agencies were given an opportunity to correct identified deficiencies.

Regrettably, we could not change the Board of Supervisors decision and we have accepted the reality that we will not be providing direct care and services to foster children and their caregivers as we have in the past. That does not mean that we’re closing our doors and abandoning our mission to advocate for foster children. To the contrary, we are more committed to our mission than ever before, and will more vociferously fight for foster children and against policies that unfairly victimize them and the caregivers.

We will continue to support and co-sponsor Dodger Day; we will continue to support The Day of the Child; we will continue to gather and distribute toys to foster children and at-risk youth in South Los Angeles at Christmas; and we will continue to serve at-risk children through other projects and activities.

Wish us luck, send us your blessings, and keep us in your prayers. We promise to do everything in our power to overcome this setback and fulfill our mission to help foster children and at-risk youth.

Again, thank you for your support for the past twenty-one years and your continued support tomorrow. “Together” we will continue to serve the needs of at-risk children and the families who care for them.

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