The County of Orange Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) recently marked its 1-year anniversary of serving vulnerable populations by spotlighting personal stories of hope and perseverance and reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting residents across the region.

Held at Newsong Church in Santa Ana, OIRA’s anniversary event brought together more than 160  residents and community leaders from various cultures and backgrounds to celebrate the unique characteristics, stories and contributions of refugee and immigrant residents in Orange County. 

Since April 2024, when Director Jose Serrano took the helm, OIRA has helped nearly 5,000 Orange County residents through a variety of direct services, including referrals to immigration legal assistance, food and nutritional aid, and housing support.

“OIRA helps create belonging, collaboration and economic prosperity across Orange County,” said OIRA Director Jose Serrano. “Immigrants and refugees bring with them many talents, innovations and skills. Sometimes, additional tools are needed to help them achieve their full potential. OIRA is committed to ensuring all residents, regardless of background and country of origin, have access to services and support that empower them to thrive and uplift others.”

Orange County has long been a refuge for those fleeing violence, war and economic upheaval across the globe. Today, more than a third of Orange County’s 3.2 million residents are immigrants, paying 
$10.5 billion annually in taxes, according to the American Immigration Council. An estimated 77,000 immigrant entrepreneurs call Orange County home.

“Refugees and immigrants bring a wealth of culture and diversity to Orange County, and contribute and help sustain its economic growth,” said OC Board of Supervisors Chair Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “OIRA has been instrumental in supporting immigrants and providing refugees with the tools and resources they need to rebuild their lives.”

Among the residents supported by OIRA is Maribel Toan, a local resident who was brought to the U.S. by her parents from Mexico when she was a child.

“OIRA is oxygen for our community,” said Toan, co-founder of The MIX Academy, a nonprofit providing free food, services and educational programming — including cooking, sports, arts and language classes — to Orange County residents in need. “Many immigrants are seeking educational and professional opportunities so they can support their families and become productive members of our communities. We’ve been able to partner with OIRA to create spaces for learning and hope.” 

Established by the Board of Supervisors in April 2023, OIRA supports the County’s immigrant and refugee communities in accordance with requirements of state and federal law to help them gain stability and self-sufficiency. 

“Knowing the County has a place where immigrants can collaborate, listen and dream has been a treasure,” Toan added. “The work being done by OIRA is essential, especially in our society today.”   

The Orange County Older Adults Needs Assessment Report has been posted to the Board of Supervisors’ March 11, 2025 agenda. This report is aimed at understanding and addressing the evolving needs of Orange County’s growing older adult population.

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New Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards featuring security upgrades will soon be on the way to residents, better protecting them from fraud while enabling them to buy nutritious, healthy food with greater confidence.

The new Golden State Advantage cards are being rolled out by the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) in partnership with the California Department of Social Services. The cards include embedded microchips containing encrypted data, making it significantly more difficult to steal information through skimming devices, and allow users to make contactless payments at participating retailers. 

Cardholders can either tap their card against a retailer’s card reader or insert the chip and enter their PIN for secure transactions. The new cards can be used by residents receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other food and cash aid benefits at most grocery stores and online grocery merchants, including Walmart and Target. 

Distribution of the new cards begins Monday, February 24, 2025, with eligible individuals and families receiving their updated EBT cards in the mail at their home address through the coming months. Not all recipients will receive their cards at the same time. Cards will be activated upon first use, and all existing benefits will automatically transfer to the new cards. A client’s old card will be deactivated 180 days after their new card has been issued. PINs will remain unchanged.

While most retailers accept the updated security features, some may still require the use of a magnetic stripe. Cardholders should first attempt to use the chip or tap features and then follow the card reader’s on-screen prompts if necessary. 

For questions, card usage issues or to report lost or stolen cards, cardholders are encouraged to contact the EBT Customer Service Helpline at (877) 328-9677. Benefits can be managed at ebtedge.com.

Orange County parents can learn how to keep their children safe from sexual exploitation and human trafficking at a hybrid workshop this week. 

The workshop, labeled Know More, Do Better for Parents and Caregivers, will cover the signs of a child being groomed, how to talk to children about body safety and healthy relationships, and when to get help from professionals.

“As parents, we do everything we can to protect our children from harm, and that effort extends to the digital realm,” said Jyothi Atluri, Division Director, Children & Family Services for County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA). “Having experts who regularly work with those affected by human trafficking together in one room brings a wealth of knowledge for parents and those caring for children.” 

The event, from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025, will include the following speakers:

• Linh Tran, Supervisor, Waymakers and Task Force Administrator, Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF)
• Lisa Delamater, Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Coordinator, SSA
• Ruthi Hanchett, Adjunct Professor teaching human trafficking prevention courses at Vanguard University and coach for Live2Free and Safe Communities, Safe Kids Program
• Kendra Tankersley-Davis, MS, Vice President of Development and Community Relations at Crittenton Services for Children and Families, Adjunct Professor teaching Human Trafficking 101, Survivors Aftercare and CSEC at Vanguard University, and an instructor for Safe Kids, Safe Communities Program

“To properly address human trafficking, caregivers need to understand the tactics that perpetrators use and, just as importantly, how to communicate effectively with their children and teens about the people they interact with — both online and in person. Anyone can fall victim to trafficking, and disturbingly, perpetrators often hide in plain sight,” said Michelle Heater, Program Director with Waymakers, which co-chairs OCHTTF with the Anaheim Police Department.

Several groups, including SSA, OCHTTF, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, OC Probation, Waymakers, Crittenton Services for Children and Families, and Vanguard University will host resource tables with more information for parents and caregivers. 

Saddleback Church, Anaheim Campus, 2095 E. Katella Ave., is providing the space for in-person attendance and refreshments. The workshop will be offered in English and Spanish.

The workshop is being put on by SSA, OCHTTF, Global Center for Women & Justice at Vanguard University, and the Orange County Department of Education. 

To attend in-person or online, RSVP in English or Spanish.

Due to the sensitive topics presented, it is not recommended for children to attend as the content and discussion are formatted for parent and adult learning.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) will change its call center hours starting February 7, 2025. The new call center hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clients are able to apply for and access their current Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs or General Relief benefits 24 hours a day at BenefitsCal.com. 

Residents who want to apply for public assistance benefits or make changes to their case information can call 800-281-9799 Monday through Friday. Customers can also visit an SSA regional office from 8 a.m. to 
5 p.m. Monday through Friday.