Dr. Charles Sophy

Health Interests

Dr. Charles Sophy has not shared any health interests.

Drugs I am Taking

Dr. Charles Sophy has not shared any drug information.

About Me

Dr. Charles Sophy has dedicated his life to the physical and mental well-being of children and families from all walks of life.

He is board certified in three clinical specialties:  Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Family Practice.  He currently serves as the Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the nation's largest Child Welfare System.  As Medical Director, Dr. Sophy is responsible for directing the physical and mental health, as well as assisting in ensuring the safety, of over 40,000 foster care children. 

Dr. Sophy also maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills and is a clinical instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles, Neuro-Psychiatric Institute.  The remainder of his time is spent lecturing across the country to various healthcare professionals, medical students, social workers and parents.

Dr. Sophy has made many guest appearances on television and radio including "The Today Show,"  "Good Morning America," CNN "Anderson Cooper 360,""The Rachael Ray Show", "In The Loop with iVillage" and PBS' "A Place Of Our Own".  He is a regular guest on radio's "Conway & Whitman" and "Dr. Drew Live."  He has been quoted in The LA Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and The Chicago Tribune, and he has been both interviewed and published in major magazines, including "Parents",  "Family Circle" "Redbook" and "Glamour."

He is the recipient of the 2002 Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, given by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).

Dr. Sophy's work at DCFS has been particularly rewarding to his fundamental mission to protect and care for our nation's most vulnerable children.  Over the last several years, Dr. Sophy has created a system that has collaboratively implemented and sustained the standardization of child welfare's health and mental health programs.  Specifically, Dr. Sophy's vision allows all children entering the child welfare system to have a standardized entry exam (forensic and/or routine) conducted by a forensic pediatric expert.  Additionally, upon their entry, these children receive an age appropriate mental health screening to assess their level of need, both from a medical and mental health perspective.  Both of these crucial services assist a child in following a well-defined path to permanence and safety while under county care, as well as aid in decreasing recidivism rates. 

In terms of severe mental health disorders in the child welfare system, Dr. Sophy has restructured portions of the system of Los Angeles County to ensure greater care.  As such, children diagnosed with and/or medicated for a mental health disorder receive a periodic reassessment that allows them to be unencumbered from labels, inappropriate medications and other hindrances to their ultimate wellbeing.

Dr. Sophy's Internet following has grown rapidly through his website www.drsophy.com.  In addition, he can be viewed on videojug.com as their Child Mental Health expert.  He also contributes regularly to several other parenting websites including:  divorcedads.com, brainy-child.com and interactivedad.com.