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Let Us Help You GET and KEEP Your BENEFITS!

With recent federal and state changes to CalFresh (food stamps) and Medi-Cal (health coverage), many are unsure what support is still available. The good news is we are here to help you get and keep your CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits so you can access healthcare and buy healthy food. If medical or grocery costs have become difficult, we encourage you to reach out, ask questions, and see if you qualify. Even if you were denied before, your situation may be different now. Click the image to the left or THIS LINK and let us help guide you through the process.

Mandated Reporter Training Opportunities

Are you a mandated reporter? Attend an upcoming child abuse and neglect mandated reporter training! These trainings are designed for mandated reporters, social workers, mental health professionals, K-12 educators, medical professionals, peer advocates, and judicial members. Mandated reporter trainings are also FREE, held both in-person and virtually, include Spanish language session options, and require advanced registration online. Learn more about our upcoming in-person and virtual trainings and how you can register online, by CLICKING HERE.

NEW! Community Need Assessment Data Dashboard

The Santa Cruz County Master Plan for Aging' Community Needs Assessment, or "CNA" report, released in August of 2025, culminates 18 months of data collection and analysis with 3,230 residents from across Santa Cruz County participating. This data is now available!

CLICK HERE to access respondent data, captured in easy to distill categories of interest.

CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care Extension News!

 Starting July 1, 2025, CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care will be extended from 12 to 24 months, giving families more time, more stability, and more peace of mind. CalWORKs Child Care provides immediate and continuous care. Help starts right away and continues without gaps. This vital support helps parents focus on work or school while ensuring their children are in a safe, nurturing environment. CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care benefits include:

• Guaranteed child care while participating in CalWORKs Employment Services
• 24 months of uninterrupted support
• Flexibility to pursue employment, education, or training

NEW - HSD's Social Services Data Dashboard Published! 

County Commitment to Protect & Support Community

• Review the County's commitment to Protecting Communities 
• Read more about the County and our department's commitment: Community Protection and Support 
• Downlad this FLYER in English and Spanish, for Community Based Organizations and partner agencies to post publicly

Access Benefits Information and Supports Online Without Having to Come In-Person!

Preliminary Age Well Survey Results - A Blueprint for Aging Well

As part of Age Well Santa Cruz County and designing our Master Plan on Aging, we issued a county-wide Community Needs Assessment Survey in early 2024 to collect community feedback focused on aging in the county. Preliminary results from the survey are now available! Learn more and find our preliminary survey results, here:

• CLICK HERE to review the survey results data stories
• Read the County's preliminary survey results press release to learn more.
• The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on the growing Santa Cruz County senior population's struggle for resources
• Read Lookout Santa Cruz's coverage of our survey results findings

Human Services Department Staff Excel in MSW Internship Program! 

We value the importance of professional development, and participate in the Masters of Social Work (MSW) Internship Program to support current staff who are seeking a MSW degree with a qualifying California graduate school of social work. We recently saw 6 Human Services Department staff either complete their internships toward earning their MSW, or graduate from the program, earning their MSW, and we couldn’t be prouder! Congratulations to all the field instructors, interns and graduates in the program!

South County Government Services Center, Now Open!