Lisa and Michael decided they were interested in adopting a foster child but did not know where to start. After noticing an All For Kids billboard and giving our agency a call, the process began. Read their interview with All For Kids to hear more about the journey that led to them welcoming three siblings permanently into their family.  

All For Kids: How did you find All For Kids and why did you choose to foster/adopt through this agency? 

After months of consideration, we decided to adopt a foster child, but we did not know where to start or even who to ask. The bureaucracy at other agencies was daunting, and we needed someone with the time and the knowledge to guide us through this life-changing journey. Where could we turn? 

One afternoon, I was driving down a street in the South Bay and happened to notice a billboard showing a child’s bright shiny face. It was as if she was saying “I’m here and am ready for you.” The words said something about adopting a foster child. It gave a phone number and the name of an agency, “All For Kids.”  I did not catch the phone number, but I could not forget the name of the organization, nor could I forget that face. When I got home, I mentioned this to my wife and got on the internet to learn more about All For Kids. A phone conversation with a responsive, caring, informed adoption professional followed, and the rest is history.  

Teens tend to spend a lot of time in front of screens. But too much screen time can interfere with getting enough exercise, doing homework and being with friends and family. It also can contribute to obesity, sleep disruption, attention and learning problems.

Screen time can include things like researching a school projects, creating music/ art or scrolling on social media. It also includes watching TV shows, streaming videos and playing video games.

CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) experts advise parents to set limits on screen time and stay aware of what their teens are doing online.

How much screen time is too much?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents of kids and teens place consistent limits on media use. Media includes entertainment (like watching TV and playing video games), and education (like researching a school project).



Not all screen time is the same. Teens are more independent, but it’s still up to parents to decide how (and how often) their teens use screens. Teens may need to spend more time online doing homework, but they may also spend a lot of time on social media, playing games or watching TV and videos.



Screen time should not replace time needed for sleeping, eating, being active, studying and interacting with family and friends.

By Jessica Rizo, CHOC Dietetic Intern, and Adriana Assenti, RD, CHOC Clinical Dietitian

We’ve all been there — tossing and turning through those sleepless nights, too tired to think straight, a little grumpy from lack of sleep, and needing those extra cups of coffee to get us through the day.

Sleep isn’t just a luxury; it’s a cornerstone of our health, playing a massive role in our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It rejuvenates our bodies, keeps our hormones in check, and is crucial for learning new information and forming memories. While numerous factors can disrupt our slumber, there are plenty of tricks to help us slip into dreamland more easily – including paying attention to what we eat.

Adequate nutrition plays a key role in keeping us alert throughout the day. Eating the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats is crucial for enhancing our sleep quality.

• Limit sugary foods and heavy carbohydrates: Consuming too much sugar and dinners high in carbohydrates can cause blood sugar levels to spike and hinder your ability to fall asleep.
• Monitor caffeine intake: Avoid giving children caffeine, which can be found in soda, coffee, tea and chocolate, as it can significantly disrupt their sleep.
• Magnesium: This is an essential mineral that plays an important role in regulating multiple functions in the body such as nerve function, blood sugar levels and immune function.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a visionary who focused his efforts on ending segregation and promoting racial equality and nonviolent civil rights protests.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

All For Kids will be closed on January 20th in his honor.

Meet Leslie Oropeza

My name is Leslie C. Oropeza. My childhood was spent in East Los Angeles until the age of 16 when I moved to Northridge and began my college education at California State University, Northridge. I later transferred to California State University, Los Angeles in 2000 and graduated with a B.A. degree in Psychology in 2002 and an M.A. degree in Counseling in 2008. This being my 23rd year in Social Services, my expertise spans foster care, adoptions, community services, strategic planning, and my life-long passion for working with marginalized populations. 

My social services career started in February 2000, at the Union Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter in Downtown Los Angeles. I provided all in-services with the Hispanic population and was the only Spanish-speaking case manager for three years. My interaction with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) led me to seek employment with foster family agencies through this position.

My work in foster care began in 2003 and I learned tools to help the families and foster children thrive within the foster care environment. Wanting to explore other careers, I accepted a Wrap Around Facilitator position in December 2007. More leadership skills were acquired from this position and my ability to think outside the box developed while continuing to maintain quality and effectiveness. During the same year, my work in Adoptions began. Although I ultimately decided to return to the foster family and adoptions realm, the Wrap Around field allowed me to gain knowledge in services that would further aid the foster care and adoption population.

In 2010, Masada Homes FFA, allowed me to serve as an Administrator. In 2017 Masada Homes became Wayfinder and I became the Executive Director for Foster Care and Adoptions. This was the most challenging and rewarding aspect of my career as it enabled me to build strong relationships with community entities that have impacted the lives of both foster and adoptive parents and children.



My relationships with DCFS and Community Care Licensing (CCL) have developed professionally and amicably over the years. Successful collaboration with these entities has been demonstrated by three excellent audits. Nurturing relationships with the community, staff, and foster parents have proven to be the best way to achieve productivity and growth in my profession. My core values of honesty and integrity persist. My most important quality is my positive, can-do attitude. This attitude shows in my willingness to try new ideas and strategies to promote innovation and growth. 

Levels of Care for Resource Parents

Adoption Supports and Services Before and After Adoption.

Since 2017, the state of California has been implementing interim Level of Care (LOC) rates for foster families. Currently, resource parents receive a beginning stipend of $1,206 per month for their care of a child in foster care.

After 30-60 days in care, an LOC evaluation occurs which determines the level of support the child needs and the original stipend rate may or may not increase.

Support of a child may be defined by the amount of family time required, youth requiring higher levels of behavioral health supports, and youth needing other more therapeutic and intensive services which necessitate a higher stipend rate.

In addition to the LOC rate for the child, some families will receive a Special Increment Rate (SCI) tier. This is paid when the needs of the child require additional support for medical or behavioral needs. When a child is from Los Angeles County, the SCI paid to the family is based on the county where the resource family resides. An example of a SCI tier 2 rate occurs if you live in LA County, which is $600; in Ventura County $475; in Kern County $525; and in Riverside County $300. Not all counties pay this SCI rate. Please speak with your social worker if you have any questions. 

All children in foster care receive medical and dental coverage through Medi-Cal.

The California State Legislature created the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) with the intent to provide the security and stability of a permanent family through adoption. AAP eligible children may receive federally funded benefits or non-federally funded benefits per state guidelines. Children who have experienced trauma and are adopted from the foster care system usually qualify for this program. The rate will remain in place until the child turns 18-21 years of age. The child can remain on Medi-Cal for medical and dental benefits until 18-21 years old.

Adoption Support and Promotion Services (APSS) is a wonderful program offered by Los Angeles County to offer support to families who are fostering a child whose plan is permanency through adoption or a family who has completed an adoption of a child or children. The support may include a support worker, mentor, referrals for additional services, and support group. 

Attend an Orientation or Complete Online PowerPoint

All For Kids is now offering an online foster care-adoption resource parent orientation that you can review at your own pace.



For those who wish to attend a live virtual orientation, an English Zoom Orientation meeting will take place on January 16th at 4:00 p.m. and will last one hour. Find out what to expect from the orientation by clicking here. 

If you prefer a Spanish PowerPoint orientation, a Spanish Orientation can be emailed to you. Please give us a call at 800-730-3933 to request the Spanish Orientation. A bi-lingual staff member will assist you throughout the process. A short Spanish YouTube video describing this orientation can be found here.

Please email Rfrecruitment@allforkids.org or click here to request the PowerPoint Orientation or to sign up for the Zoom orientation.

Completing either orientation will officially begin your process of becoming a foster or foster-adopt parent. We hope that you will take action to foster children and make a difference in your community.

Our application is now available online; please click the button below. Once completed, it may be emailed to Rfrecruitment@allforkids.org Please visit our website where you will find more information about becoming a resource parent. All For Kids offers free online training via Foster Parent College.  

Please email beatrizcruz@allforkids.org for assistance.