Don't house youths in lobby, agency is told

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Space-strapped foster care officials have been ordered to stop housing youngsters in the waiting room of the county Department of Children and Family Services' downtown office.
The state ruled last week that the waiting room was an illegal foster home and ordered the practice stopped by May 20.
Los Angeles County records show children have been staying there since 2003, when an emergency children's shelter was closed to settle a lawsuit claiming the county was dumping children with mental health problems there.
"We understand that it's not the best situation for children," said agency spokeswoman Laura Grasmehr. "The department is looking for more shelter beds."
There have been more than 100 cases of juveniles spending nights in the waiting room this year, records show. In some cases, difficult-to-place teens, including gang members and youths with physical or emotional problems, sleep next to babies.