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California should reform child neglect laws

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California should reform child neglect laws


We’ve all read enough news coverage about government agencies to understand that they rarely handle basic responsibilities (filling potholes, etc.) in an efficient and competent manner. Given that track record, it’s not hard to imagine the problems that occur when government officials insert themselves into the most private and emotionally complex aspects of people’s lives.

We’re referring to Child Protective Services laws, which empower social workers to remove children from their homes and place them in foster care. These agencies have the power to break up families based on their judgment calls about the safety of children. They operate in a secretive manner because of laws designed to protect personal family information.

These agencies have a tough job, but they often are tarnished by scandal. Some involve incidents where social workers failed to protect a child, while others involve those who may have unnecessarily removed children or failed to follow the law in doing so. Regarding the former, in 2022 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $32 million settlement after a lawsuit alleged the department didn’t property investigate abuse allegations that ultimately led to a child’s death.

One infamous case of the latter took place in Orange County more than a decade ago. The county was hit with a $4.9-million legal judgment following one Seal Beach woman’s six-plus-year effort to regain custody of her children. Two social workers were alleged to have filed false reports and withheld evidence that would have cleared the mom, per a 2011 Orange County Register report.

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Our Legislature has rarely wanted to unravel a system that’s so complex. It’s admittedly hard to know how to change the rules to provide a fairer process and sometimes legislative efforts make matters worse. Obviously, we need a system to protect children from abuse – but there are many ways to make that system better.

An investigation from CalMatters points to one way to proceed. It zeroes in on “failure to protect” laws that allow social workers to take children from homes where domestic violence is present – such as from a mother who is abused by her partner. However, the law often has the perverse effect of encouraging moms to stay in abusive situations out of fear they might lose their kids and further traumatize the family.

“(O)ther states with similar laws have narrowed the criteria for when a welfare agency can remove a child,” according to the report. Almost all states have these laws, “but California’s is comparably vague, giving social workers wide latitude in deciding when to remove kids.” Critics say our state’s approach treats victims the same as perpetrators. Typical of government, these agencies don’t even tally the number of children taken each year under the law.

An article from USC’s Center for Health Journalism notes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services typically opposes the use of these laws for reasons mentioned above – and that California offers no clear statewide guidance, leaving it in the hands of individual social workers and agencies. It seems like a good place to start, then, for legislators to come up with some sensible guidelines or limits for how local agencies implement them.

There’s no simple fix to these fraught situations, but more transparency and less governmental subjectivity certainly will help.

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California officials facing backlash in aftermath of Palisades fire one year later | Fox News Video

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California officials facing backlash in aftermath of Palisades fire one year later | Fox News Video


Pacific Palisades resident Rachel Darvish joined ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss how the deadly fire has continued to impact the community one year later and why California officials are still facing backlash for their handling of the disaster.



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California Rep. Doug LaMalfa has died at 65

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California Rep. Doug LaMalfa has died at 65


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California Rep. Doug LaMalfa has died at 65

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One Of California’s Wealthiest Suburbs In 2025 Has Small-Town Charm And A Fun Social Scene Outside LA – Islands

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One Of California’s Wealthiest Suburbs In 2025 Has Small-Town Charm And A Fun Social Scene Outside LA – Islands






Coto de Caza in Orange County, California, about an hour south of Los Angeles, may not be a household name. But viewers of “The Real Wives of Orange County” might recognize the wealthy, gated residential community as the former home base of the glitzy Bravo reality series. While stars of the show — currently in its 19th season — now live in other affluent areas, the imagery of Coto de Caza is still appealing for those contemplating a luxurious move. Coto boasts a private setting where high-profile celebrities, executives, and wealthy professionals live amid abundant open space, well-regarded schools, community events, a family-friendly atmosphere, and easy access to the county’s bounty. Indeed, in this well-to-do development of about 15,363 people, where the mean household income is $232,470 (more than double the state’s average), the most recent median list price of a single-family home was $2 million.  There are splashier compounds in Coto, including the late real estate mogul William Lyon’s home selling for $125 million, which includes 20 bathrooms.

These prices are a long way from the area’s humble origins of barley fields and grazing sheep, according to the Los Angeles Times. Once a private hunting lodge, the area’s first homes were built in 1975, eventually transforming into a 5,000-acre master-planned community with about 4,000 homes and condominiums. Nestled against the Cleveland National Forest and just east of the SR 241 toll road, Coto de Caza strives to offer residents not just a home, but a lifestyle. Recreation is never far with area baseball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, parks, and picnic areas. Outdoor pursuits continue at the adjacent Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, a 544-acre wildlife sanctuary filled with groves of Western Sycamores and Coast Live Oaks and five miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

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Golf and mingle

A big attraction to the development is the 36-hole Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, a central hub offering youth summer camps for kids and social events like trivia nights, comedy nights, and brunch with Santa. A yearly social membership can cost $2,880 with $180 in monthly dues. A golf upgrade can hike the initiation fee up to $30,000 with $750 monthly dues. Joining the club is optional, but your monthly Homeowners Association (HOA) fees aren’t. Those range from $300 to $475, and cover 24-hour manned guard gates, daily patrols, and landscape maintenance of common areas. A cheaper ticket to fun is connecting with neighbors for poker nights, movie screenings, and monthly mixers. 

This is a neighborhood where you can stay put for your child’s entire education. Parents send their kids to top-notch schools, including Wagon Wheel Elementary, Las Flores Middle, and Tesoro High, in the Capistrano Unified School District, all within a short 2.5 to 5.5 mile drive away. Grocery shopping also is fairly close, about 10 minutes to Rancho Santa Margarita stores such as Ralph’s and Trader Joe’s. To really shop, like at Bloomingdale’s and Gucci, the Valhalla of retail — South Coast Plaza — and the vibrant arts city of Costa Mesa are just a 30-minute drive. Plus the glorious Pacific Ocean is about 17 miles away  in breath-taking Laguna Beach.

Coto de Caza’s charms are many. A few cons to keep in mind: With a location about 10 miles inland from Interstate 5, Coto de Caza is more remote so commutes may take longer; busy professionals need their shut-eye so nightlife peters out by 9pm; and wildfire risks mean finding insurance can be a challenge. For a buzzier locale, check out the iconic coastal escape of nearby Newport Beach.

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