Director's Message

Welcome to the County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department (HSD) website.

The Human Services Department motto is “Dedicated to making a difference.” As Department Director and Deputy Director, we see this dedication in action every day through the work of our staff, and in partnership with community based organizations and other stakeholders. That said, we know there is more work to do, as the most vulnerable in our community still have unmet needs. Therefore, we are always working to develop innovative strategies to better serve our community.  

Here at the Human Services Department, our staff is compassionate about the work they do and, together with our community partners, we work to help those in need move through and beyond challenging times. Through the dedication of our staff, we make it our mission to strengthen our community by protecting the vulnerable, promoting self-sufficiency, alleviating poverty, and improving the quality of life in our community. The safety net services we provide are critically important to ensure that the basic needs of Santa Cruz County residents are met. 

Randy Morris, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Director

Kimberly Petersen, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Deputy Director