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Sacramento County has responded to the 2025-26 Sacramento County Grand Jury report on foster youth, outlining areas where it agrees with the Grand Jury and others where it disagrees with its findings and recommendations. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, Sacramento County’s Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services (DCFAS) presented its response to the Board of Supervisors.
The report, “No Longer Invisible: Foster Youth Still in the Shadows,” examined the County’s Sacramento Welcome Homes and the services provided to foster youth who are at risk of sexual exploitation. The Grand Jury recognized improvements at the Welcome Homes but also raised concerns about placements, technology, information sharing, reporting and staff training.
The County agrees with two of the Grand Jury’s findings. It agrees that Child Protective Services (CPS) has improved conditions at the Welcome Homes and obtained licenses for the facilities. The County also agrees that the Sheriff’s Office has provided valuable protection and built positive relationships with youth living in the homes.
The County partially agrees with the finding that Welcome Homes are inappropriate for youth who have experienced or are at risk of sexual exploitation. DCFAS said Welcome Homes are not intensive therapeutic settings, but they provide an immediate, supervised place for youth who may otherwise have nowhere to go. The homes use a safety and stabilization approach, with behavioral health services available through partner agencies. The County also noted a statewide shortage of specialized placements for youth with complex needs.
The County wholly disagrees with the Grand Jury’s finding that CPS fails to use the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard to limit access to cell phones and technology. DCFAS said state law protects foster youth’s rights to personal property, communication and age-appropriate access to the community. The County said phones can also be an important safety tool for contacting caregivers, social workers and other trusted adults.
The County also wholly disagrees with the finding that gaps in data sharing leave youth vulnerable to exploitation. DCFAS said Welcome Home staff share information about exploitation concerns with law enforcement and include relevant information in missing-person reports. Social workers also make service referrals and use assessment tools to identify exploitation risks.
The County partially agrees with the finding about quarterly reports to the Board of Supervisors. DCFAS said it has regularly reported on the challenges faced by youth who are being commercially sexually exploited or are at risk. However, it acknowledges that specific numbers of identified youth have not been included. The County plans to begin including that information in its quarterly reports starting with the second quarter of fiscal year 2026-27.
The County wholly disagrees with the findings on the Community Advisory Board and the Welcome Homes strategic plan. The County also said a Welcome Homes presentation and report were provided to the Board in November 2024 and that information has continued to be provided through quarterly reports.
The County also wholly disagrees with the finding that Welcome Home staff need additional training. DCFAS said staff are required to complete training on commercial sexual exploitation of children, trauma-informed care, harm reduction and the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard. The County said training information is provided to the Board through quarterly reports.
The County will conduct additional research on best practices used by other counties identified by the Grand Jury for identifying, preventing and responding to the exploitation of foster youth. That review is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.
Read the full documents:
- Full 2025-26 Sacramento County Grand Jury report
- Full Sacramento County response to the Grand Jury report
A recording of the presentation can be viewed on the Board of Supervisors website.