Lisa E. Mandel

Lisa E. Mandel is the interim director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). In this role, she champions child protection and family well-being grounded in best practices, dignity and opportunity for those who receive services from the department.

Ms. Mandel’s primary purpose is to advocate for those whose voices are too often unheard.

She began her county career in 1986 as an attorney for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, representing adults charged with felonies and youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

Ms. Mandel’s experience working with young people inspired her to help establish what is now known as the Children’s Law Center, where she devoted nearly two decades to the representation of children and youth in the child welfare system.

Throughout her career, Ms. Mandel also has invested her time in mentoring and developing the next generation of child advocacy attorneys.

After nearly 20 years with the offices of former Los Angeles County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Zev Yaroslavsky, Ms. Mandel joined DCFS in 2023 as chief of staff, a role that best positioned her to directly influence child welfare policy, drive systems change and apply her legal expertise.

Ms. Mandel was promoted to acting chief deputy director in 2025 and, on Aug. 1, 2026, she began her tenure as interim director of DCFS.

Ms. Mandel is known for her collaborative leadership, deep compassion and steadfast dedication to improving the outcomes for Los Angeles County’s children, youth and families. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Occidental College and earned her juris doctor from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.