Update: The Hot Food Waiver has been extended to March 10, 2025. 

CalFresh recipients can use their benefits to buy hot, prepared food at authorized retailers through February 8, 2025, thanks to a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) requested the waiver to help residents impacted by the recent fires. The hot food waiver applies to seven counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Riverside and San DIego

All Orange County households and individuals receiving CalFresh benefits are eligible to buy hot, prepared food with their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards at authorized retailers. A list is available here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator. Hot foods purchased during this period will not be subject to sales tax. 

For more information on CalFresh’s disaster response, visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/disaster-calfresh.

To apply for or check on cases for CalFresh, Medi-Cal CalWORKs or General Relief, visit BenefitsCal.com or call 800-281-9799.

The 30th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County is now available. The report offers a comprehensive portrait of the conditions of health, economic well-being, education and safety of Orange County’s children. 

As a means for better understanding the state of children’s health, two new indicators have been added to the report: child care and perinatal behavioral health. 

Affordable, consistent child care is vital to child development and family financial stability. In 2023-2024, the number of early child care spaces in Orange County is at a decline while the cost of child care continues to increase, demonstrating a lack of accessible child care.

 A close look at perinatal behavioral health shows a 55.9% increase in referrals for substance-exposed infants to the Social Services Agency. Unborn babies exposed to substance use face long-term challenges, including premature birth, low birth weight, a higher risk of congenital anomalies and developmental and behavioral concerns. 

Mental health also continues to be a challenge during pregnancy; indicators show a modest recent rise in depression, with 15.1% experiencing depression during pregnancy and 11.2% postpartum. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and postpartum psychosis can inhibit parents' ability to care for themself and bond with their newborn. Talking about these concerns and creating an understanding social environment may encourage more parents and families to seek mental health treatment and support.

The following areas have shown improvement in the lives of local youth:

• Good Health: The percentage of uninsured children continues to drop to 3% as access to regular care improves. Rates for 2-5-year-olds enrolling in licensed child care are at a 10-year high, and 95.6% of children enrolling in school are adequately immunized by kindergarten. 
• Education:  Orange County high school graduates have consistently higher rates of college readiness compared to the state average. The percent of college ready students increased for the 11th straight year and is now at 57.3%. 
• Economic Well-being: The number of children receiving CalWORKs in Orange County stabilized after eight years of decline. In 2022-2023, 3.3% of children received CalWORKs assistance, a 47% decrease from 6% of children from 2013-2014. 
• Safe Homes and Communities: The rate of foster care placements in permanent homes within 12 months improved, exceeding the national standard. Juvenile crime rates also decreased with the number of arrest rates per 100,000 youth down to 458 arrests in 2022.

While much progress has been made, continued areas for focus include behavioral health, chronic absenteeism, racial and ethnic disparities and insecure housing, among others. Reports of depressed-related feelings, sadness and hopelessness continue to rise in students. Chronic absenteeism is at a slight decline from the previous year; however, the numbers remain elevated, with the highest rates among students enrolled in Foster Youth and Homeless Youth. 

Post-pandemic family stability continues to waver across Orange County, seriously affecting the health and growth of the children in our community. Understanding the key factors impacting our children leads to awareness and progress, bettering our community for current and future generations. 

To read the full report, visit ssa.ocgov.com.

The Families and Communities Together (FaCT) Annual Report covering July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, is now available. 

The report highlights the impact and achievements of FaCT’s 16 Family Resource Centers (FRCs) alongside FaCT action committees in supporting the County’s efforts to ensure children in Orange County grow up in secure, nurturing families and safe, supportive environments. 

A public-private partnership between the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) and Charitable Ventures, FaCT plays a vital role in the County’s work to help at-risk families and children thrive, striving to prevent child abuse through family strengthening and support services, such as counseling and parenting classes. 

More than 11,000 residents and 4,600 families received services in the last fiscal year. The report highlights the 63,610 referrals FaCT provided for services such as food assistance, basic needs, mental health counseling and health insurance. 

FaCT resources also include comprehensive case management services, educational and training programs, and advocacy and community engagement, bringing together a network of community-based organizations to engage residents, deliver direct services, and fund development and professional training on best practices.

The FaCT platform has served the Orange County community for over 29 years. 

To read the report or for more information, visit www.factoc.org. 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency’s Adult Services office moved to a new location at 2020 W. Walnut St. in Santa Ana, on October 7, 2024. The office, previously housed on Warner Avenue, supports Adult Protective Services (APS), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and IHSS Public Authority programs. APS provides services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse and the exploitation of adults unable to protect their own interests because of age or disability. IHSS provides a wide range of domestic and personal care services to allow persons with disabilities and elderly individuals to live safely at home. IHSS Public Authority provides the elderly, blind and individuals with disabilities assistance in finding a prescreened homecare Provider who will enable them to live independently and remain safely in their homes.

This change is anticipated to have minimal impact on Adult Services clients. In addition to contacting their assigned case worker, SSA clients and providers can continue to utilize the following options:

• Report elder/adult abuse by calling 800-451-5155
• For more information on services, call 714-825-3000
• Apply for IHSS services over the phone or by downloading an application at www.ssa.ocgov.com/IHSS/Apply and submitting by:
  • Email: IHSSapplications@ssa.ocgov.com
  • Fax: 714-825-3001
  • Mail: PO Box 22006, Santa Ana, CA 92702

The County Community Service Center in Westminster, 15496 Magnolia St., is closing effective noon Wednesday, September 25, 2024. 

Clients can continue to contact their assigned case worker or obtain services through:

• BenefitsCal.com, the new statewide portal to apply for and check on benefits,
• SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799, available from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, or
• Other SSA offices: https://www.ssa.ocgov.com/about-us/office-locations/office-location-list.

For additional information on SSA programs, visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) has published its annual report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, covering the period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. The report highlights the agency’s accomplishments and initiatives and shares the positive impacts that SSA has made to the community as a whole, serving one in three residents.

The annual report features SSA’s FY 2023-2024 accomplishments, focused on serving the most vulnerable Orange County residents, including:

• Opening the County Community Service Center in the city of Brea to provide a second one-stop shop where residents can find so­cial services programs and other community services. 
• Connecting more than 1 mil­lion Orange County residents to low- or no-cost health insurance as full scope Medi-Cal eligibility expanded to more adults. 
• Launching the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to serve as a bridge between immigrants and refugees, and the supports they need to thrive in Orange County. 
• Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the statewide CalSAWS eligibility system and online portal BenefitsCal, which streamlines access for residents to public assistance programs no matter where they live in California. 
• Embarking on SSA’s first five-year strategic plan, MOSAIC. 

“We have accomplished so much in the last fiscal year, from returning to pre-pandemic processes to providing enhanced training opportunities for our staff to leveraging technology to give our clients a better customer experience,” SSA Director An Tran said. “That work would not have been possible without our staff who every day engage our clients with compassion. The goals we have set for next fiscal year and the rest of our five-year strategic plan will strengthen our connections to the community so that we may meet their needs in ways that bring comfort and security.”

Read the full report.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) has published its annual report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, covering the period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. The report highlights the agency’s accomplishments and initiatives and shares the positive impacts that SSA has made to the community as a whole, serving one in three residents.

The annual report features SSA’s FY 2023-2024 accomplishments, focused on serving the most vulnerable Orange County residents, including:

• Opening the County Community Service Center in the city of Brea to provide a second one-stop shop where residents can find so­cial services programs and other community services. 
• Connecting more than 1 mil­lion Orange County residents to low- or no-cost health insurance as full scope Medi-Cal eligibility expanded to more adults. 
• Launching the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to serve as a bridge between immigrants and refugees, and the supports they need to thrive in Orange County. 
• Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the statewide CalSAWS eligibility system and online portal BenefitsCal, which streamlines access for residents to public assistance programs no matter where they live in California. 
• Embarking on SSA’s first five-year strategic plan, MOSAIC. 

“We have accomplished so much in the last fiscal year, from returning to pre-pandemic processes to providing enhanced training opportunities for our staff to leveraging technology to give our clients a better customer experience,” SSA Director An Tran said. “That work would not have been possible without our staff who every day engage our clients with compassion. The goals we have set for next fiscal year and the rest of our five-year strategic plan will strengthen our connections to the community so that we may meet their needs in ways that bring comfort and security.”

Read the full report.

The Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) is once again nationally recognized as a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) through its renewed accreditation by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA). The organization also awarded CAST with accreditation under the optional Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) and Physical Abuse Standards. 

For 35 years, CAST has brought together public safety agencies, medical professionals, social workers, child interview specialists and child advocates in a multi-disciplinary team to conduct child sexual abuse investigations in a manner that keeps the victims’ needs at the forefront. In meeting the criteria for the optional standards, CAST can also provide services for children who are victims of or witness to human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, and physical abuse. 

“Our reaccreditation and the addition of the optional CSEC and Physical Abuse Standards is an acknowledgement of what makes our Children’s Advocacy Center so unique: the high levels of collaboration and coordination between the departments in the County of Orange, local law enforcement, the medical community and of course the volunteer child advocates who remain with the children throughout the investigation process and the victim advocates who support families during the legal process,” said An Tran, Director of the County of Orange Social Services Agency, CAST’s lead agency. 

CAST, the only CAC in Orange County, works with all 23 local law enforcement jurisdictions to bring victims and witnesses to the center for forensic interviews, medical exams and/or crisis intervention therapy. In 2023, CAST served nearly 660 children, conducting 478 forensic interviews, completing 80 sexual abuse exams, and 20 physical abuse exams. Victim witness had 471 referrals.

NCA ensures all CACs provide children and families with effective, efficient, relevant and compassionate services through an accreditation process every five years. 

“The Child Abuse Services Team is to be commended for its continued commitment to effectively support the statewide CAC movement in California,” said NCA Chief Executive Teresa Huizar. “As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration.”

If you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, please call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 714-940-1000 or 800-207-4464, or your local law enforcement agency.

OC Residents are invited to attend The Stories that Connect Us, a free community event of celebration and awareness, presented by the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) and Orange County Resettlement Agencies. 

OIRA and Orange County Resettlement Agencies will host the event from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at the Anaheim Central Library, 500 W. Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805.

“For OIRA’s first official community event, I want to welcome and celebrate the rich talent, culture and experiences that our refugee and immigrant neighbors knit into the fabric of our Orange County community,” said OIRA Director Jose Serrano. 

Festivities will kick off with an art walk featuring work from Colombian American artist Andres Felipe Rivera, Venezuelan American artist Jhonaikel Vielma Belandria, Syrian Emmy award-winning video journalist Samer Alchikh Kouider and other featured artists. A Dabke performance by Western High School’s Arabic class will follow. Noorzad Productions, an Afghan family-owned event and party planning business, will cater the event with light appetizers featuring flavors from Afghanistan. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with artists and artwork, as well as the opportunity to share their own talent during Open Mic and Poetry Reading hour. 

The event aims to bring together people from various cultures and backgrounds to celebrate the unique characteristics, stories and contributions of refugee and immigrant residents in Orange County. All are welcome. 

For questions, please email OIRA at OIRA@ssa.ocgov.com.

A previous version listed an incorrect phone number for the Brea location.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is opening a second County Community Service Center (CCSC) in Brea on Monday, June 10. 

CCSC Brea is a one-stop shop for Orange County residents where their needs will be assessed to best match them to services and resources available from SSA, its co-located partners, other government agencies and community-based organizations.

With SSA, clients can apply for benefit programs that provide money for groceries, no- or low-cost health insurance, and cash aid. The OC Health Care Agency and CalOptima Health will help patients take control of their health care decisions. Additionally, job seekers and businesses can visit OC Workforce Solutions on the third floor to access employment resources. 

Community resource specialists will assist clients with vital records such as birth and marriage certificates, DMV appointments to get ID cards or driver’s licenses, and navigation of city and County services, among other comprehensive supports. Referrals to housing, childcare and educational services will also be offered.

The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs plans to place a social worker at CCSC Brea to connect clients to the services and resources they are eligible for. 

“The opening of this location is yet another milestone in the expansion of County services into our community,” said SSA Director An Tran. “The success of CCSC Brea comes from working with our co-located County and community-based partners. OC Health Care Agency, CalOptima Health, OC Workforce Solutions, the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and SSA are bringing together our collective resources in one place.”

CCSC Brea joins CCSC Westminster, which serves an average of 1,600 clients each month. 

Staff at both locations can assist customers in multiple languages, including Spanish and Vietnamese. 

CCSC Brea, at 675 Placentia Ave., will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To contact CCSC Brea, call 714-834-7500 or email CCSCBrea@ssa.ocgov.com. 

CCSC Westminster, at 15496 Magnolia St., is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To contact CCSC Westminster, call (714) 372-3454 or email CCSCWest@ssa.ocgov.com.