Human Services Department
Overview
Mission Statement
We strengthen our community by protecting the vulnerable, promoting self sufficiency, alleviating poverty, and improving the quality of life.
Department Overview
The Human Services Department offers a wide range of programs and services to the Santa Cruz County community. The department provides safety net services to meet the basic needs of individuals and families, ensures the protection of children, the elderly, and dependent adults, and provides job search assistance and job training opportunities to help job seekers become self sufficient. The department promotes economic security and community vitality for County residents through administration of a variety of programs, including programs to protect seniors and people with disabilities, services for veterans, child welfare services, Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid programs, employment and workforce services, and housing programs for individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Budget Summary
Department Budget Overview
Budget Summary of Changes
The Human Services Department (HSD) budget includes scheduled and negotiated salary and benefit increases. HSD is recommending status quo staffing, with a minor adjustment to reclassify 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) vacant Benefit Representative to 1.0 FTE Benefit Representative Supervisor to support expanded training expectations and state/regional coordination. The budget includes a reduction by $7.1 million and $3.2 million in State Child Welfare Services funding and State Community Services Block Grant funding respectively. The budget sustains current services, pending the outcome of State budget negotiations for 2024-25.
Supplemental Budget Summary of Changes
The Supplemental Budget includes the reclass of a 1.0 FTE Social Worker II in Housing for Health to a Departmental Administrative Analyst to increase grant management capacity for a portfolio of 40-50 grant programs, and other miscellaneous changes within Social Services Administration, Workforce Innovation and Opportunities, and Public Guardian.
Open the Services Overview or Operational Plan Objectives below for more details.
Department Services and Objectives
Footnotes
1 – Indicates change from FY 2021-22 Allowed Budget
2 – General Fund Contribution is the share of General County Revenues (primarily property tax and other local taxes) allocated to each department. Other funds that contribute to this budget are shown on the Budget Details page.
3 – Indicates change from FY 2021-22 Adjusted Funded Positions (including Board-approved mid-year changes as of April 1, 2022).
Budget Details
The charts below show department expenditures and revenues by division and service. Click on the pie charts to drill down for more detail. Complete detail can be found on the County's Transparency Portal.
Expenses by Service
Expenses and Revenues over time
Personnel Details
The chart below provides the department personnel detail by division, service, and classification.