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A recent attack on security guards by youths staying at a transitional center for older foster children with nowhere else to go prompted a call Friday for beefed up security at the facility.
The Youth Welcome Center, housed on the campus of Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, is a last-resort place for foster children ages 12 and older who have nowhere else to go. Many of
the youths are older teens who have been thrown out of multiple foster homes or are difficult to place. The facility is supposed to house the children for 24 hours, but many end up staying
considerably longer. In February, the Times reported on issues at the facility, including youths being recruited for prostitution. Four months later, a special committee appointed by the
county Board of Supervisors recommended that they shut the center down. On Saturday, three youths at the center attacked two security guards, said Amara Suarez, a spokeswoman for the Los
Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. She said it was unclear what sparked the assault, but it “may have been related to the youths not following instructions as they
were being processed into the center.” A staffer captured a portion of the melee on video and it was later shared with the Times. INTERESTED IN THE STORIES SHAPING CALIFORNIA? SIGN UP FOR
THE FREE ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA NEWSLETTER >> Suarez said the youths remained at the center after the incident, but on Tuesday got into another fight with a guard, and one youth was
arrested. She said a sheriff’s deputy is now on duty at the center around the clock. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the area, said in statement that she had directed
Department of Children and Family Services Director Philip Browning to take further measures to improve safety and security at the center and to “help find alternative placement for the most
at-risk minors” and provide mental health services to those who need them. FOLLOW ABBY SEWELL ON TWITTER AT @SEWELLA FOR MORE COUNTY NEWS. ALSO: INSIDE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM: A BLEAK LAST
STOP FOR LOST YOUTHS L.A. COUNTY’S FOSTER CENTER SHOULD BE CLOSED IMMEDIATELY, PANEL SAYS MORE TO READ