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Board expands county coordination for LGBTQ+ care and supports for system‑involved youth
Summary
Supervisors approved a motion to strengthen countywide coordination of gender‑affirming care, mental-health services and transitions supports for LGBTQ+ residents and justice‑involved youth, and directed several departments to designate leads and improve culturally competent training and data collection.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a multi‑department motion to expand and coordinate gender-affirming medical and mental-health services across county departments and to strengthen care for LGBTQ+ residents — with special emphasis on youth in foster care and the juvenile-justice system.
Supervisor Hilda L. Solis introduced the “Care with Pride” motion and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath co-authored it. Solis said the item builds on prior county programs and stressed the need to protect transgender and gender-nonconforming residents amid intensified national political attacks. She noted the Department of Health Services’ existing Gender Health program and asked departments to deepen coordination.
What the motion does: The board directed DHS, the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Department of Probation and other departments to designate leads to participate in the county’s Gender Health Coalition; to develop enhanced mental-health supports tailored for LGBTQ+ residents; to expand culturally responsive, trauma-informed staff training; and to develop a timeline for confidential, safe data collection about outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth in county care.
Board concerns and guidance: Supervisors asked departments to protect confidentiality and safety when collecting data on gender identity in custody settings. Supervisor Janice Hahn said she supported the motion but expressed concern about how probation would collect data “that does not place our youth … in a potentially dangerous situation and protects their privacy.” Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell asked that the youth commission be included in planning.
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously. Departments were directed to designate contacts, coordinate with community providers and return with planning and implementation details.
