LATEST NEWS

Mandated Reporter Training Opportunities

Are you a mandated reporter? Please join us for an upcoming child abuse and neglect mandated reporter training, in-person on September 11 in Watsonville or September 26 in Live Oak. The trainings are FREE, designed for mandated reporters, social workers, mental health professionals, K-12 educators, medical professionals, peer advocates, and judicial members. CLICK HERE to learn more and to register.

Santa Cruz County's State of the Workforce Report

The Santa Cruz County Human Services Department's Workforce Development Board (WDB) recently released the 2025 State of the Workforce report, offering a snapshot of local employment trends, wage data, and the affordability pressures shaping the region’s economy. While employment trends and local job quality reveal some challenges that widen the gap between wages and living costs, the report highlights encouraging signs:

CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care Extension News!

 Starting July 1, 2025, CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care will be extended from 12 to 24 months, giving families more time, more stability, and more peace of mind. CalWORKs Child Care provides immediate and continuous care. Help starts right away and continues without gaps. This vital support helps parents focus on work or school while ensuring their children are in a safe, nurturing environment. CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care benefits include:

• Guaranteed child care while participating in CalWORKs Employment Services
• 24 months of uninterrupted support
• Flexibility to pursue employment, education, or training

NEW - HSD's Social Services Data Dashboard Published! 

Each year in May, Older Americans Month is recognized nationally to celebrate the contributions older adults make to our families and communities. Roughly 69,500 residents in Santa Cruz County are over age 60 - nearly one-quarter of our county's population. This year, help us "Flip the Scrip on Aging" as we re-commit to healthy aging for all, and continue our work as an Age-Friendly designated county.

CLICK HERE to read the May 20 proclamation issued by the County Board of Supervisors, recognizing May as Older Adults Month in Santa Cruz County

May is CalFresh Awareness Month

  May is CalFresh Awareness Month, and throughout California we celebrate how CalFresh, formerly called Food Stamps, helps mitigate food insecurity. In Santa Cruz County, over 41,700 people receive CalFresh, and in March of this year, over $6.5 millions in CalFresh was spent in local food retail stores just that month. Everyone deserves access to healthy food. This month, as always, join us in celebrating the impact CalFresh makes.

• CLICK HERE to read the County Board of Supervisors resolution proclaiming May as CalFresh Awareness Month
• CLICK HERE to learn more about CalFresh

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, where we recognize year-round efforts to strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment. By increasing awareness about child and family well-being for all families, we help prevent child abuse and neglect. HSD’s Family and Children's Services staff protect children at risk of, or who are experiencing abuse or neglect, focusing on child safety and supporting families to create safe and nurturing homes for their children.

County Commitment to Protect & Support Community

• Review the County's commitment to Protecting Communities 
• Read more about the County and our department's commitment: Community Protection and Support 
• Downlad this FLYER in English and Spanish, for Community Based Organizations and partner agencies to post publicly

Workforce Santa Cruz County Strategic Vision Forums

Workforce Santa Cruz County is shaping the future of our workforce through collaboration, innovation, and community insight. Please join a forum for our Strategic Vision 2025-2030! Whether you're a job seeker, a community organization, or an education and training partner, your voice matters in building a stronger workforce for Santa Cruz County.

• CLICK HERE for more information and a schedule of upcoming forums
• Read the Press Release to learn more
• Thank you to Santa Cruz Local for covering this initiative

Access Benefits Information and Supports Online Without Having to Come In-Person!

Preliminary Age Well Survey Results - A Blueprint for Aging Well

As part of Age Well Santa Cruz County and designing our Master Plan on Aging, we issued a county-wide Community Needs Assessment Survey in early 2024 to collect community feedback focused on aging in the county. Preliminary results from the survey are now available! Learn more and find our preliminary survey results, here:

• CLICK HERE to review the survey results data stories
• Read the County's preliminary survey results press release to learn more.
• The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on the growing Santa Cruz County senior population's struggle for resources
• Read Lookout Santa Cruz's coverage of our survey results findings

Human Services Department Staff Excel in MSW Internship Program! 

We value the importance of professional development, and participate in the Masters of Social Work (MSW) Internship Program to support current staff who are seeking a MSW degree with a qualifying California graduate school of social work. This year we saw 6 Human Services Department staff either complete their internships toward earning their MSW, or graduate from the program, earning their MSW, and we couldn’t be prouder! Congratulations to all the field instructors, interns and graduates in the program!

Veterans Service Office & Help for LGBTQ+ Veterans with Federal Pardon

The Veterans Service Office is here to support LGBTQ+ Veterans forced out of the military and subject to a court-martial because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to apply for the recent Presidential Pardon issued on June 26, 2024.

• • CLICK HERE to read our press release.
  • Visit the Veterans Service Office webpage to learn more.

South County Government Services Center, Officially Open!