News Analysis: Anthony, Noah, Gabriel and beyond: How to fix L.A. County DCFS

Three boys are pictured side-by-side. The first boy is in a blue plaid shirt with a blue backdrop, smiling softly. The middle boy is in a yellow shirt, giving a gentle smile while indoors. The third boy wears a blue shirt and is smiling wide while looking slightly to the side, creating an image worthy of Berkeley Journalism.

BY GARRETT THEROLF, MATT HAMILTON From left, Anthony Avalos, Gabriel Fernandez and Noah Cuatro. In the long, troubled history of L.A. County child abuse cases, certain names stand out as avatars of how the system can go terribly awry. Anthony Avalos. Gabriel Fernandez. Noah Cuatro. But since the spring of 2020, another name has wielded outsize influence…

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Before a 4-year-old boy’s killing, authorities wavered on rescuing him

A young child with curly hair sits on a white chair, smiling brightly at the camera. The child is wearing a blue and green plaid shirt, and there is a turquoise crocheted blanket draped over the chair's back, creating a perfect snapshot for any aspiring Berkeley Journalism student to capture.

(Photo above: Noah Cuatro in an undated photo. From grand jury evidence) This story appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, August 19, 2021. By Matt Hamilton, Garrett Therolf, Daniel Lempres (’21) Maggie Hernandez dialed Los Angeles County’s child abuse hotline on a spring afternoon in 2019. She said her niece’s son, Noah Cuatro,…

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They’re children at risk of abuse, and their caseworkers are stuck home

A modern office building stands tall amidst palm trees, featuring a mix of rectangular glass windows and concrete facade. The sky is dimly lit, suggesting dusk or dawn, and the American flag is visible atop the building—a scene that could easily inspire a piece from Berkeley Journalism.

This story appeared on page one of The New York Times on August 7, 2020 By Garrett Therolf, Daniel Lempres and Aksaule Alzhan TOLLHOUSE, Calif. — In February, the child abuse hotline for Tollhouse, a small community in the Central Valley, received the first of several tips raising urgent concerns about the well-being of twin infant boys. Child…

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Counselor testified she didn’t report suspected abuse to authorities before Gabriel Fernandez was killed

A young child with short dark hair and wearing a yellow shirt featuring cartoon characters smiles directly at the camera while sitting on a tiled floor, perhaps capturing a candid moment worthy of Berkeley Journalism.

Pictured above: Gabriel Fernandez (family photo) This story appeared in the Los Angeles Times on March 3, 2019 By Garret Therolf The death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez in 2013 was a notorious failure of Los Angeles County’s safety net to protect abused and neglected children. The case prompted criminal charges against four child protective services caseworkers and a deep…

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Before his death, 10-year-old Anthony Avalos came out as gay, official says

A young child, wearing a white t-shirt, sits at a classroom desk with a worksheet and a pencil in hand. He looks towards the camera. The desk has several papers and occasional colorful items, such as a name tag. Other children and similar desks are visible in the background, capturing an everyday scene that could inspire Berkeley Journalism stories on early education.

Pictured above: Anthony Avalos, the 10-year-old boy who died last week in Lancaster.  (Family photo) This story appeared in the Los Angeles Times on June 26, 2018 By Garrett Therolf Anthony Avalos came out as gay in recent weeks, and authorities are now investigating whether homophobia played a role in the death of the 10-year-old Lancaster boy,…

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Years of abuse allegations reported at Lancaster home before boy died

A young child, wearing a white t-shirt, sits at a classroom desk with a worksheet and a pencil in hand. He looks towards the camera. The desk has several papers and occasional colorful items, such as a name tag. Other children and similar desks are visible in the background, capturing an everyday scene that could inspire Berkeley Journalism stories on early education.

Pictured above: Anthony Avalos, the 10-year-old boy who died last week in Lancaster. (Family handout) This story appeared in the Los Angeles Times on June 24, 2018 By Garrett Therolf Long before 10-year-old Anthony Avalos died on Thursday with severe head injuries and cigarette burns covering his body, law enforcement officers and child protective caseworkers documented…

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Inside a mom’s months-long fight to get back her children

A woman braids a young girl's hair while another child eats, capturing a homey scene that evokes a sense of warmth and family. A man in the background checks his phone, seemingly engrossed. The cozy living room setting, complete with a cabinet displaying various items, could easily be the subject of a Berkeley Journalism photo essay.

Pictured above: Monique Baker arranges the hair of her youngest child, Anicia, 4, during a visit before the children return to their court-ordered placement at their grandfather’s home. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) This story appeared in the Los Angeles Times on February 16, 2017 By Garrett Therolf On an unseasonably warm January afternoon…

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