LAUSD Family Support Services & Hotline

The new school year is upon us. For LAUSD parents, August 15th is the day kids head back into the classroom for the start of another academic year. While parents spend the next two weeks making sure their children have all the school supplies they need to succeed, it’s just as important to make sure they are mentality, emotionally and physically prepared for the rigors of academia and daily life. 

Back to School is starting earlier than in years past. You may ask yourself, why? Well, in April of this year, the LAUSD Board of Education voted to lengthen the 2022-23 academic year in an effort to make up for lost in-person instructional time due to the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board approved a new calendar that will see the school year start on August 15th 2022, and end on June 15th, 2023. Four instructional days will be targeted for students that need to catch up. To view the entire LAUSD Calendar, click here.

Learning Loss
One year after Congress passed record funding in COVID-19 relief, a new analysis reveals that California school districts so far have spent little of it on efforts to address learning setbacks caused by the pandemic. The data indicates that learning slowed, especially among the youngest students, and gaps in achievement between Black and Hispanic students and their white and Asian peers widened during distance learning in 2020-21. The analysis also reveals most districts, 89%, are on track to meet the spending deadline for which the first spending deadline is Feb. 1, 2023.

Mental Health
According to health experts, Back To School is a perfect time for parents to check in with their children about their mental health. Let them know that heading back to campus for a new school term can be hard for many young people, but that they can talk to you or other adults if they need help. Once school starts, make sure you know what resources are available for your child if they begin to struggle with anxiety, and depression.

Updated LAUSD COVID-19 Testing Protocols
LAUSD officials will not be implementing many of the COVID-19-control measures that have been in effect over the past year. Students and school personnel will no longer need to undergo weekly COVID testing. Mask-wearing will still be only strongly recommended indoors, and the district’s COVID vaccination requirement for students remains on hold until at least next year. LAUSD will employ a “response testing” protocol for the school year that begins Aug. 15.

Students also will no longer be required to update their health and testing status on the district’s Daily Pass system to access campuses each day. The system will remain to allow students to upload the results of “response testing” or vaccination records. The system will also be used to notify close contacts of a person who has tested positive. To read more about the COVID protocol updates, click here.

Student and Family Wellness Hotline
LAUSD has resources available to students and their families. The Student and Family Wellness Hotline is available to students, families, and staff of LAUSD, during regular school days, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. The hotline provides support with mental health; accessing food, health insurance, school enrollment, immunizations and other basic needs. Call (213) 241-3840. Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish.

 

Additional Resources

California Youth Crisis Line
Call or text: (800) 843-5200 (English and Español)

County of Los Angeles Resources
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Access Line: (800) 854-7771

Crisis Text Line (24/7)
Text LA to 741741

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Survivors of Suicide Attempts: (424) 362-2901
Survivors After Suicide: (424) 362-2912 for adults and (424) 362-2911 for teens

 

School Supply Resources

L.A. Care Back and School Supplies Giveaways

  • Friday, August 5 | walk-up only
    10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Community Resource Center in Inglewood
    2864 W. Imperial Hwy., Inglewood, CA 90303
  • Saturday, August 13 | drive-thru/walk-up (Will include food giveaway)
    10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Banning Senior High School
    527 Lakme Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90744

Dream Center’s Annual Back-to-School Bash

  • 10am-1pm, August 6th, 2022
    2301 Bellevue AveLos Angeles, CA 90026

Believe in Giving – Back to School Give Back

  • 11am, August 6th
    Council District 9 Office – Curren Price
    4301 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles 90011
    (323) 846-2651

IBTU Presents the 3rd Annual Back to School

  • 1pm, August 6th
    Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
    3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Los Angeles 90008

Sisters of Watts Back to School Jam

  • 11am – 2pm, August 6th, 2022
    Ted Watkins Park
    1335 E 103rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90002

There’s Still Time to Nominate Your South LA Cultural Treasures!

There’s Still Time to Nominate Your South LA Cultural Treasures!
Please take the 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙇𝘼 survey to highlight local artists, tradition bearers, landmarks, and cultural practices from our South LA neighborhoods and communities. Visit southlaculture.org.
The survey is part of 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗔, a community-driven cultural asset mapping initiative celebrating the long arc of artistic expression in Leimert Park, Vermont Square, Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, and connected neighborhoods. The initiative will result in a database, interactive map, and video story bank of community-identified Cultural Treasures and implement cross-sector, community-based solutions to advance economic and social change.

Voters to decide whether LA hotels should house the homeless

Voters to decide whether LA hotels should house the homeless

 

The LA City Council voted 12-0 to send a measure that calls for the utilization of vacant hotel rooms for the unhoused to be put on the March 2024 election ballot. Under the proposal, hotels with 15 or more rooms would be required to continually report vacancies to the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). The LAHD ran program would then commence referrals for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and pay “fair market rate” to the hotels through prepaid vouchers.
The initiative would also add additional affordable housing requirements for new hotel developments with 100 rooms or more that replace existing housing units. Developers would be required to provide a proportional number of affordable housing units at the hotels or in the surrounding neighborhood. To read the motion, click here.

Homeless Encampments Near Schools and Daycare Centers

Homeless Encampments Near Schools and Daycare Centers
The Los Angeles City Council voted to prohibit homeless encampments from setting up within 500 feet of all schools and daycare centers in the City. Every public and private school, not just the few dozen selected by the council over the last year, will be covered under the new restriction. This came about at the urging of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho and the Council needing to provide safe walkways for students while making sidewalks compliant with ADA regulations. The second consideration will take place next week. To read the motion, click here.