Founded on March 12, 1888, Five Acres was only the third orphanage opened in Los Angeles County and is now the oldest agency that started as an orphanage. While we once started serving 35 children in Los Angeles, today we impact over 7,000 children and their families in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties annually with a permanency rate of 84% and we have expanded to providing community-based programs, community-based specialty services, and foster care and adoption services. This year’s permanency campaign is dedicated to honoring the past, embracing the present, and celebrating the future of Five Acres.
Join us in celebrating Five Acres’ 135th birthday with a donation today!
Foster Parents Are Needed More Than Ever
Because of the passing of the Family First Act introduced on 2/7/2018, the federal government's ability to pay for foster care placements has been restricted. Per the federal guidelines, Section 1905(i) of the Social Security Act defines an IMD as an "institution of more than 16 beds, that is primarily engaged in providing diagnosis, treatment, or care of persons with mental diseases." Currently, all residential agencies in CA that have above 16 beds fall into the IMD determination.
In 2020, LA County had 21,876 foster youth. If all LA County Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPS) were reduced to 16 beds, that would reduce capacity below 718 beds. While foster children can also be placed with foster families, there is still a tremendous foster shortage in L.A.
For more information about our Permanency program, please contact Amanda Miller, Recruiter and Trainer:
amandamiller@5acres.org | 626-214-0465