The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced today the availability of a dedicated hotline for current recipients of In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Hotline staff are now available to discuss recipients’ urgent needs amid the COVID19 crisis and Governor Newsom’s subsequent stay-at-home order to prevent the further spread of illness.
SSA’s IHSS program provides supportive services to eligible individuals who are aged, blind, and/or disabled, are limited in their ability to care for themselves and cannot live at home safely without assistance.
Orange County IHSS recipients are encouraged to call at (714) 825-3000 and press option 4 if they have an immediate need (needed within three days from the initial call to the hotline) for food or other essential items. The hotline is available during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers will be connected with SSA staff who will further assess the recipient’s needs and provide linkages and access to appropriate programs and services.
The IHSS hotline serves as a primary touch point for current IHSS recipients. For information on community resources for older adults, caregivers or persons with disabilities, please call the Office on Aging at 714-480-6450.
The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) today announced that the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has expedited the implementation of EBT online purchasing to allow greater access to food and other necessary household items during the COVID-19 crisis and statewide stay at home order.
EBT online purchasing is set to begin on April 28, 2020. The new functionality will provide eligible California recipients with more purchasing options to avoid in-person interaction at stores and ensure adherence to social distancing guidelines that help prevent the spread of illness.
Online purchasing functionality will initially be available through two major California retailers, Amazon and Walmart. Both merchants accept EBT payments for food purchases using CalFresh benefits; Walmart also accepts EBT payments for non-food items using CalWORKs cash benefits.
CDSS is working to expand the number of participating retailers once online purchasing is fully implemented and operational in California.
When buying groceries at either of the designated retailers, customers are charged a grocery delivery fee when less than $35 of food is purchased; for food purchases over $35, delivery is free. At this time, CalFresh food benefits cannot be used to cover delivery fees at either retailer. Eligible CalWORKs recipients may use their cash benefit to pay for delivery fees at Walmart.
“We are pleased that CDSS is expediting this enhanced functionality to Orange County EBT cardholders to redeem their benefits online,” said SSA Director Debra Baetz. She continued, “This additional purchasing capability provides our vulnerable populations with greater access to the essential food and non-food items they need, and at the same time allows them to remain at home for their health and well-being, as well as for the safety of the community.”
Orange County residents who are interested in applying for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs and General Relief can apply as follows:
By phone through the SSA Call Center at (800) 281-9799
The SSA Call Center is available from Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, April 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved California’s application to operate a Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program during the COVID-19 crisis.
Beginning today, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will issue P-EBT benefits to CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs and Foster Care households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals as well as to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals whose schools are closed due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Through the program, households will receive up to $365 for each child who is eligible for P-EBT benefits. The total amount received depends on how many eligible children there are in the household and the P-EBT card will be paid up to the following amounts each month:
March 2020: $68 per eligible child
April 2020: $120 per eligible child
May 2020: $120 per eligible child
June 2020: $57 per eligible child
The California Department of Education (CDE) and CDSS estimate P-EBT benefits issuance of more than $1.4 billion to over 3.8 million school children throughout the state to address food insecurity during the crisis.
In Orange County, households with children who are directly certified to receive free and reducedprice school meals and are current CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal or Foster Care benefit recipients, will automatically be mailed their P-EBT card by May 22 and do not need to apply for the benefit.
Orange County families with children from households eligible for free and reduced-price school meals through a school application, and some attending schools where meals are free for all students, who have not received a P-EBT card by 5/22/20, will need to apply online. The application period for P-EBT benefits will run beginning May 22 through June 30, 2020 at https://ca.p-ebt.org.
Students can still pick up to-go meals if they receive P-EBT benefits.
The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that it will begin to open some offices with limited functionality effective Monday, June 22, 2020, in accordance with the State’s variance to safely reopen business. This phased re-opening will help to ensure a greater number of Orange County residents have access to public assistance benefits and related services, while planning for the safety and protection of SSA clients and staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long inperson wait times and help prevent the spread of illness.
As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464.
Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.
Beginning June 22, 2020, the following locations will be open to the public with limited functionality, Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
Aliso Viejo Regional Center
115 Columbia
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Garden Grove Regional Center
12912 Brookhurst St.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Anaheim Regional Center
3320 E. La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92806
Santa Ana Regional Center
1928 S. Grand Ave., BLDG. B &C
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Cypress Regional Center
6100 Chip Ave.
Cypress, CA 90630
Limited visitations and Live Scan appointments will resume by appointment only for Children & Family Services clients. Assigned social workers will contact clients directly to schedule appointments as applicable.
All other SSA offices will remain closed to the public until further notice.
Clients who arrive at SSA facilities will go through a brief pre-check process prior to being allowed entry into an SSA lobby. SSA staff will inquire about the purpose of the client’s visit and will conduct a short health screening questionnaire. Visitors will be strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing throughout their visit. It is highly recommended that all visitors, unless under the age of two, those who have breathing issues or those with an underlying medical or mental health issue, wear a face mask or cloth facial covering for the safety of others.
“At SSA, the health and well-being of our clients and staff is paramount. In addition to asking members of the public as well as our employees to practice good health habits and perform physical distancing, we have taken precautions to modify lobby seating configurations, install protective barriers and perform enhanced cleaning to help prevent the spread of illness, among other safety measures,” said SSA Director Debra Baetz. She continued, “While some of our offices are opening in this first phase of re-entry, we urge visitors to continue to apply for new benefits or check on their existing cases by phone or online in order to remain safe at home.”
For additional information on SSA programs, please visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.
To stay up to date with information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, please visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.
The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that it will modify some of its limited functionality operations beginning Monday, August 10, 2020. The Agency will continue to keep its Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana Regional Centers open to the public with reduced hours, from Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
In addition, SSA will close its Cypress Regional Center (CRC) to the public until further notice as part of the modifications and will reallocate some of its California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program staff to the Garden Grove Regional Center to meet client demands. CRC has experienced the lowest volume of client traffic among the SSA facilities that are currently open to the public.
Guided by its mission of delivering high quality, responsive and accessible services to the public, SSA is committed to serving the community by making crucial public assistance benefits available to those in need. The Agency is dedicated to balancing the needs of its clients while working to ensure the safety of its staff and the community it serves—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When SSA initially re-opened some of its offices in late June to the public, the Agency’s re-entry plan allowed for the periodic evaluation of visitor traffic during its first month of operation. The modification to refine SSA’s core business hours to the public reflects peak coverage times over the past four weeks and works to ensure SSA continues to remain a stable physical presence in the community, available to those who require in-person assistance for their immediate needs.
SSA has implemented numerous protective measures to ensure the safety of its clients and employees. These safeguards include modifying lobby seating configurations, installing protective barriers and performing enhanced cleaning to help prevent the spread of illness. Clients who arrive at SSA facilities will go through a brief pre-check process prior to being allowed entry into an SSA lobby. SSA staff will inquire about the purpose of the client’s visit and will conduct a short health screening questionnaire. Visitors will be strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing throughout their visit. It is highly recommended that all visitors, except those under the age of two or individuals with an underlying medical or mental health issue, wear a face mask or cloth facial covering for the safety of others.
Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long in-person wait times and help prevent the spread of illness.
As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464.
Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.
Limited visitations and Live Scan appointments will continue by appointment only for Children & Family Services clients. Assigned social workers will contact clients directly to schedule appointments as applicable.
For additional information on SSA programs, please visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.
The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that beginning Saturday, September 5, 2020, the Agency’s Saturday drive through benefits issuance services will be consolidated at SSA’s Santa Ana Regional Center (SARC), by appointment only. The Agency will continue to provide weekday benefits issuance by appointment from multiple locations. Clients requiring drive through benefits issuance services should continue to follow current processes by scheduling appointments through the SSA Call Center at (800) 281-9799 or contacting their caseworker.
The decision to consolidate Saturday benefits issuance at SARC was made based upon evaluation of client utilization of these services.
Currently, SSA’s Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana Regional Centers are open to the public with reduced hours, from Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long in-person wait times and prevent the spread of illness.
As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464.
Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.
Limited visitations and Live Scan appointments will continue by appointment only for Children & Family Services clients through their assigned social worker.
For additional information on SSA programs, please visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com
The following areas have shown improvement for the lives and well-being of Orange County’s youth:
Good Health: Orange County women receiving early prenatal care is rebounding, which may be in part driving the infant mortality rate drop of 31% between 2009 to 2018.
Economic Well-Being: The number of total Orange County child support cases decreased by over 30% from 89,852 cases in 2010/2011 to 62,851 cases in 2019/2020. Over the same period, improvements in child support collections per case have increased by over 12%, ensuring an increase in income to parents to provide for the basic needs of their children.
Educational Achievement: The rate of dropout among high school students is approximately one in 20 students, lower than the state and national dropout rates. Further, over half of Orange County third graders meet or exceed the statewide achievement standards in Math and English Language Arts, higher than the state rates.
Safe Homes and Communities: In 2019, 4.7% of juvenile prosecutions were gang-related, down 65% from 13.6% in 2010.
“We are pleased to report on good health outcomes and improvements in education, among other indicators, as noted in the Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County. Teen birth rates are at their lowest in ten years and academic performance in the subjects of Math and English Language Arts among third graders continues its five-year positive trend,” said Vice Chairman and First District Supervisor Andrew Do, who serves as the Chair of the Orange County Children’s Partnership (OCCP), the advisory board responsible for publishing the report. Supervisor Do continues, “The report uncovers areas where County departments can focus their efforts to ensure our children thrive. While the report highlights several improvements, there is much more we can do to ensure the overall health and wellbeing of our youth.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently approved a request by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) that allows current CalFresh households to purchase hot, prepared foods using their California Golden State electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card through November 22, 2020. The request was made to help residents impacted by the recent wildfires and power outages who may not be able to store food or have access to cooking facilities.
The hot food waiver applies to 35 California counties, including Orange County.
Who is eligible?
All Orange County households and individuals who are currently receiving CalFresh benefits.
Where can hot food be purchased?
CalFresh recipients wishing to purchase hot, prepared foods with their EBT cards should visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator for a list of authorized EBT retailers in their area.
For more information, or to check your EBT balance, please visit the CalFresh Benefits Helpline at (877) 847-3663 (FOOD).
For immediate food assistance, please contact Orange County Food Bank at (714) 897-6670 or Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County at (949) 653-2900.
Operation Santa Claus, which began as a small effort to meet the needs of a handful of children in 1962, has become a major event for the community. This program provides gifts and toys to children who are in foster care in Orange County as well as to children of disadvantaged families who are receiving services from the County of Orange. Last year, Operation Santa Claus distributed over 41,000 toys/gifts to children in need. This would not be possible without the generosity and collaborative effort of County of Orange employees, community-based organizations, businesses and individuals in the community who play an important role in collecting toys.
In addition to Operation Santa Claus, SSA also runs Senior Santa & Friends. This program is geared toward providing gifts and special request items to low income elderly or severely disabled adults who are clients of SSA and/or the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Each year, SSA staff identifies clients who would benefit from having items such as household appliances, special medical equipment, nutritional supplements or clothing. Items received through Senior Santa & Friends help to make life easier, more comfortable or more independent. Last year, Senior Santa & Friends provided over 2,300 gifts and necessities to low-income seniors and adults with disabilities in Orange County. This was largely due to the efforts of volunteers and donations received from County employees, private companies, community-based organizations and private individuals who donate to Senior Santa & Friends annually.
“Now more than ever, Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa and Friends is looking to our local volunteers and donors to help make the holidays special and hopeful for Orange County children, elderly and disabled adults,” said Second District Supervisor Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She continued, “In past years we have seen an amazing outpouring of support from County staff and from the community to bring joy to our vulnerable populations during the holidays. We are hopeful the same tradition of giving will continue this season.”
The two programs are hoping to achieve a goal of $20,000 in total donations received by the end of this year. Orange County residents can take part by donating to Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa & Friends as follows:
Donate new and unwrapped toys at the collection boxes placed in many County buildings including every County Library throughout Orange County. In addition, Orange County residents may also drop off toys and other gifts at 1505 E. Warner Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705. Please call 714-679-2438 or email OperationSantaClaus@ssa.ocgov.com to ask about drop off times and locations.
Following the Governor’s Regional Stay-at-Home Order that went to effect on Sunday December 6th in Southern California and other regions throughout the state, Orange County residents are required to remain at home as much as possible to reduce their exposure to illness. As a result, the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) highly encourages that residents apply for and/or access their essential public assistance benefits and services by phone or online and avoid in-office visits for their safety and the safety of the community.
Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below.
As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may visit www.coveredca.com
By Phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
While SSA will also continue to offer services from four regional offices currently open to the public with limited functionality, the Agency urges the public to use alternative access points if possible. The limited functionality at four regional offices allows for in-office visits, especially for those individuals who may have limited or no access to a phone or internet. SSA triage staff will continue to conduct brief visitor health screenings at these locations and all visitors must wear appropriate face coverings prior to entering the facilities.
According to SSA Director Debra Baetz, “SSA continues to deliver essential services and critical safety net benefits to the community, and as such, we will continue to keep our four regional offices open to the public with limited hours.” She continued, “However, the same services being provided from these offices can be obtained through our online portal as well the SSA Call Center. We urge you stay home, stay safe and utilize these alternate access points.”
Residents can access other SSA services and programs as follows:
• SSA will continue to provide drive-through benefits issuance — for the distribution of new and replacement Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Benefits Identification Cards (BIC) — by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call the SSA Call Center at (800) 281-9799 or contact your assigned caseworker.
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• To apply for Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), please call (800) 281-9799.
• If you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.
For additional information on SSA programs, visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.
