Human Services Commission

The Human Services Commission is a volunteer advisory board which meets six times a year to ensure the highest quality and maximum effectiveness of human services provided for the benefit of the citizens of Santa Cruz County. Meetings are open to the public. The Commission consists of ten members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

The duties of the Commission (as defined in Chapter 2.60 of the Santa Cruz County Code) are to:

  • Guide long-term planning regarding meeting the socio-economic needs of low-income, disabled, disadvantaged and at-risk people in the county;
  • Advise the county board of supervisors on policies and priorities that affect the socio-economic needs of low-income, disabled, disadvantaged and at-risk people;
  • Provide advice and counsel to the Director and Senior Management of the Human Services Department on best practices in the operation of the department’s programs;
  • Provide a forum for citizens affected by county human services programs and policies;
  • Advise the Board of Supervisors on funding decisions affecting the socio-economic needs of low-income, disabled and disadvantaged people, including county allocation of resources to county programs and community programs funding;
  • Integrate efforts and initiatives affecting the socio-economic needs of the poor which cross departmental, divisional and interest-group lines;
  • Advise the board of supervisors on legislative matters concerning the county human services programs. (Ord. 4106 § 2 (part), 1991)

Meeting Schedule

Pursuant to AB 361 and Cal. Gov. Code section 54953, due to the ongoing COVID 19 state of emergency and upon recommendation of the County Health Officer, public meetings of the Human Services Commission will be conducted in a hybrid/remote format. Members of the public can attend virtually by teleconference (or in-person, if hybrid).

Human Services Commission meetings are held bimonthly on the third Wednesday from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

The Human Services Commission meeting scheduled for May 18, 2022 has been cancelled.

To provide written public comments associated with any agenda item, please submit by email to micki.cocabuss@santacruzcounty.us

Agendas

Advisory Commission Members

Lisa Smith (First District)

Emily Hanson (First District)

Danny Keith, Vice-Chair (Second District)

Martina Sharyn O’Sullivan (Second District)

Monica Martinez (Third District)

Betsy Clark, Chair (Third District)

Charles M. ‘Stoney’ Brook (Fourth District)

Felipe Hernandez (Fourth District)

Jennifer Anderson-Ochoa (Fifth District)

Denise Hitzeman (Fifth District)