Los Angeles County has earned national recognition from the National Association of Counties for four groundbreaking programs addressing systemic inequities and economic justice challenges.
The Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, working with county partners and community organizations, received 2025 NACo Achievement Awards for initiatives serving domestic violence survivors, underserved communities, foster youth and public health concerns.
"Each of these programs reflect the power of community-centered public investment and cross-sector partnerships to remove systemic barriers and expand opportunity, especially for communities that have been historically underserved," said Rafael Carbajal, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
The Empower U program won in the Human Services Category for providing $2,500 no-strings-attached grants to 1,000 domestic violence survivors during the pandemic. The program targeted BIPOC, immigrant and LGBTQ communities facing intensified economic hardship, covering critical expenses including relocation and medical care while connecting participants with services for rebuilding financial independence.
Leaving a Legacy earned recognition in the Community and Economic Development Category for making estate planning accessible to underserved communities. Led by DCBA's Center for Financial Empowerment in partnership with Bet Tzedek and St. John's Community Health, the program provides free estate planning services to help families, especially in BIPOC communities, build and preserve intergenerational wealth.
The Youth Access to Banking initiative won the Youth Financial Empowerment Category for helping foster youth under 18 open bank accounts. The program, led by the Auditor-Controller's Ombudsperson for Youth in Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs with partners including Rize Credit Union, removed barriers like ID requirements, minimum deposits and adult co-signers. More than 100 youth have opened accounts.
The Los Angeles Smoke Shop Project received the Public Health and Youth Safety Category award for addressing Delta-8 THC and emerging cannabinoids in smoke shops near youth-sensitive locations. The Substance Abuse Prevention and Control team's countywide response resulted in local and statewide policy changes, community trainings and advocacy that other jurisdictions are now replicating.
The NACo Achievement Awards have recognized innovative county government programs improving community quality of life since 1970, covering 18 categories of county responsibilities.
Edited by SMDP Staff