Youth Development Services

About Us

Youth Development Services Division (YDSD) Mission Statement:

To provide comprehensive services and resources to assist transition age youth (TAY) successfully transition from dependency to self sufficiency.

Email YDSD Team: youthds@dcfs.lacounty.gov
Toll Free Number: 1(877) 694-5741 (MY ILP 411), (213) 351-0100/0101


Robbie Odom, Division Chief
Ronique Ross, Interim Division Chief
Robbie Odom has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as the Division Chief for the Youth Development Services Division (YDSD).



Erika Pollard, ILP Director
Erika Pollard, ILP Director
Ms. Erika Pollard is a graduate of San Diego State University. Ms. Pollard started her career with DCFS in January 1998 as a Social Worker Trainee.

She worked her way up to an SCSW position in Continuing Services where she worked for 8 years while also facilitating a Teen Club. Ms. Pollard came to Youth Development Services Division in 2014 as an ILP/Transition Coordinator and is currently the ILP Director.

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Dr. Michael Scoggins, Director of Housing Services
Dr. Michael Scoggins, Director of Housing Services
Dr. Michael Scoggins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Education, with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction. He received his doctoral degree in Education, with a concentration in research and evaluation, from the University of Southern California.

He began his career at DCFS as a Research Analyst. His role in Research was to advise the Department’s MSW candidates in data collection, methodology development, and formulating analysis for their master’s thesis. He was promoted to a Children’s Services Administrator I as a Training Coordinator, where he provided and facilitated training on a number of subjects. Later, he was promoted to Program Manager (Children’s Services Administrator II) with the Kinship Support Division prior to being selected as the Director of Housing for the Youth Development Services Division.

During his tenure at DCFS, Dr. Scoggins provided professional instruction and has been the principal coordinator on a number of child welfare-related conferences for staff and caregiver/resource families. His interests include caregiver education, aftercare, permanency and well being for youth, and community resource navigation for families. In addition, Dr. Scoggins has served as a lecturer at various universities on research development, education and social work.

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Darlene McDade-White, Administrative Support Manager
Darlene McDade-White, Administrative Support Manager
Ms. Darlene McDade-White graduated from the University of California at San Diego in 1983 where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.

She went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from San Diego State University, in 1985, before starting her career at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as a Children’s Social Worker. While working as a social worker for DCFS, Ms. McDade-White obtained a Master’s Degree in social work (MSW) from the University of Southern California in 1995.

She has worked for DCFS for 30 years, 10 years as a front line social worker and 20 years in management/administration for DCFS. Prior to her current position as the Housing Director in the DCFS Youth Development Services Division, Ms. McDade-White was the Head Investigator for DCFS Risk Management Division Internal Affairs Section where she supervised and conducted investigations of departmental personnel for the DCFS.

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Jenny Serrano, Director of Special Projects & VIP Sections
Jenny Serrano, Director of Special Projects & VIP Sections
Jenny Serrano manages the Division’s programs for transportation, credit checks, workforce development, and special initiatives. She joined DCFS in 2010 in this capacity. From 2007-2010, she served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in the County’s Chief Executive Office.

Jenny holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Northridge. She is also an Associate Professor of Political Science with the Los Angeles Community College District.

Jenny is a proud alumna of foster care in Los Angeles County. She was in foster care from the age of 13 and aged out in 1995. During that time, she attended 6 high schools and lived in 6 foster homes. She went on to become the caregiver for her younger brother when she was 19 and he was 15. The ILP program helped her get through college. Today, she has a family of her own with 2 kids and a cat named Dutchess.

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