This year marks the 37th anniversary of the 999 for Kids program. This program is a partnership between Special Victims Bureau, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the community to provide financial support beyond the basic needs for children who are victims of child abuse. Special Victims Bureau raises funds through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for the program. The donations will benefit children under the supervision of DCFS, Specialized Medical Placement and Deaf Services. These children are victims of the most severe cases of child abuse, neglect and/or domestic violence. Children who fall within the scope of the 999 for Kids program are placed by DCFS not only because of the home environment, but in part due to their physical or medical conditions that include life-threatening illnesses. Although tax dollars provide for the basic needs, no funds are available for care requirements beyond that for these children.
The funds raised through the 999 for Kids program are utilized as follows:
- To provide the children with unique gifts relevant to their needs, including but not limited to wheelchairs, braille machines, computers and specialized summer camps
- To provide recognition awards at the annual Ice Cream Social, where we recognize our poster child and award scholarships to the program children
- An annual end-of-year Christmas party for all the children in the program with age-appropriate gifts, meals, photos with Santa, a petting zoo and artificial snow for fun
This year’s 999 for Kids Pledge Drive was from July 1, 2023, to August 15, 2023. We asked our partners to pledge donations to the program on behalf of their assigned unit. We disseminated posters featuring our poster child and members of the Sheriff’s Department throughout various county facilities and were able to raise over $52,000. It is very heartwarming knowing that these generous donations will benefit more than 1,000 children in the Specialized Medical Placement and Deaf Services Unit.
In addition, our annual Ice Cream Social was held on August 24, 2023, at the Liberty Community Plaza in Whittier. This event encourages our law enforcement community to spend time getting acquainted with the children we serve through the 999 for Kids program. The children look forward to this event and love interacting with our sworn personnel and professional staff. Building friendships through activities such as taking photographs and capturing precious memories promotes confidence for these children and their families.
We recognized 2023 poster child Isaiah and 2022 poster child Allan, as well as the Art Award and Scholarship winners. Special Victims Bureau’s Captain Richard Ruiz, chair of the 999 for Kids program, was the distinguished speaker at the event. Sheriff Robert Luna and Undersheriff April L. Tardy spoke and presented Art and Scholarships awards. They also posed for photographs with poster child Isaiah and the award recipients.
Department of Children and Family Services Division Chief Jennifer Hottenroth expressed appreciation for the program and shared stories on the program and its positive impacts on the children. Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) Executive Director Deanne Tilton Durfee conveyed gratitude for the 999 for Kids program.
We want to wholeheartedly thank the professional staff from the Special Victims Bureau and Sheriff Information Bureau. They went above and beyond to make this event a success. Sheriff Luna and Undersheriff Tardy particularly recognized Temple Station and Court Services East as the top two units contributing the most significant donations. Finally, we want to thank all the units and organizations who participated in the pledge drive and donated to the 999 for Kids program. We are extremely thankful for your continued support and compassion for the children we serve!
- Access to Care Bureau
- Altadena Station
- Audit and Accountability
- Bureau of Labor Relations and Compliance
- Century Station
- Cerritos Station
- Communication & Fleet Management Bureau
- Community College Bureau
- Century Regional Detention Facility
- County Services Bureau
- Court Services Administrative HDQT
- Court Services Central Bureau
- Court Services Transportation
- Court Services East – Downey Court
- Court Services East – Edelman Children’s Court
- Court Services East – Pomona Court
- Court Services West – Torrance Court
- Crescenta Valley Station
- Custody Compliance & Sustainability Bureau
- Custody Support Services Bureau
- Data Systems Bureau
- Facilities Services Bureau
- Fiscal Administration Bureau
- Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau
- Homicide Bureau
- Internal Affairs Bureau
- Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau
- Inmate Services Bureau
- Lakewood Station
- Lancaster Station
- Lieutenant Nikki Hanamaikai
- President, LASD Grizzlies Football
- Major Crimes Bureau
- Marina del Rey Station
- Men’s Central Jail
- Metrolink Bureau
- Narcotics Bureau
- Norwalk Station
- Operations Safe Street Bureau
- Palmdale Station
- Parks Bureau
- PDC North
- Personnel Administration Bureau
- Pico Rivera Station
- Population Management Bureau
- Risk Management Bureau
- San Dimas Station
- Scientific Services Bureau
- Sheriff’s Information Bureau
- Special Enforcement Bureau
- Special Victims Bureau
- Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention
- Temple Station
- Training Bureau
- Transit Services Bureau North
- Twin Towers Correctional Facility
- Walnut/Diamond Bar Station
- West Hollywood Station
