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Investigative Reporting Program

Logo for the Investigative Reporting Program at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. The words "Investigative Reporting Program" are split diagonally, with the top part in dark gray-blue and the bottom part in a lighter gray, symbolizing Berkeley Journalism’s commitment to deep-dive reporting.

Child Welfare

How misguided policies and systems fail to protect children in peril.

Learn more about the Investigative Reporting Program.

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.

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

Reporter Garrett Therolf of the Investigative Reporting Program and Matt Hamilton of the Los Angeles Times report on the systemic flaws behind L.A. County's failure to prevent child abuse.

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

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

An investigation by the Investigative Reporting Program and Los Angeles Times uncovered how failures in the child welfare system led to a young child's death.

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.

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

Garrett Therolf, Daniel Lempres, Aksaule Alzhan, Laurence Du Sault, Ricky Rodas & Alyson Stamos report investigations into abuse or neglect delayed or sharply curtailed.

A framed photograph of a young boy standing with his hands on his hips, dressed in a checkered shirt, is displayed on a shelf. Surrounding the photo are decorative items including a red letter

The horrific death of Anthony Avalos and the many missed chances to save him

IRP reporter Garrett Therolf reports on the tragic death of a 10 year-old boy and how child welfare workers missed warnings and opportunities to intervene.

A young child with curly dark hair lies on a bed, resting their head on a plush toy. The child, wearing a gray shirt and exhibiting a gentle expression, looks directly into the camera as if capturing the candid moment for a Berkeley Journalism feature. The background is a plain wall.

Social workers didn’t remove boy from his home despite court order. He later died

In this piece for the Los Angeles Times, IRP reporter Garrett Therolf and J-School student reporter Alyson Stamos cover the suspicious death of a young boy who was allowed to remain with his parents despite a court order.

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.

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

IRP reporter Garrett Therolf reports in the Los Angeles Times that an employee of a contractor paid millions by the county's Department of Children and Family Services failed to pass on information about eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez's abuse before his death. As someone working with children, she was required by law to share this information with authorities.

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.

Anthony Avalos was extensively tortured over days before dying, prosecutors allege

IRP's Garrett Therolf reports on the horrible circumstances that culminated in a 10-year-old boy's death

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.

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

IRP's Garrett Therolf reports on the investigation of the death of a 10-year-old boy

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.

Years of abuse allegations reported at Lancaster home before boy died

A woman braids a young girl

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

In this collaboration with Common Sense Media and the Los Angeles Times, IRP's Garrett Therolf was granted a special court order that allowed him to be present for one mother's interactions with child protective services and the courts.

A large room with multiple beds, each separated by partitions. Several individuals sit on the beds, wearing pink uniforms. The room has white walls, with a ceiling featuring exposed ductwork and fluorescent lighting. A sign on the ceiling reads, "COMMUNITY CENTER," bringing to mind snapshots from a Berkeley Journalism feature.

L.A. County makes it easier for probation workers with discipline problems to get promotions

IRP's Garrett Therolf reports on how L.A. County makes it easier for probation workers with discipline problems to get promotions