Department
of Human Services
Peggy
Montgomery, Director
1200 South Dr., Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3241 |
Tribal TANF program
Important
Hotline Telephone Numbers
To Report:
- Suspected
Child Abuse:
1-866-582-8776 (24 Hours)
- Suspected
Elder Abuse:
1-877-897-5813 (24 Hours)
- Suspected
Welfare Fraud:
(559) 582-3211 Ext. 3333
- Licensing
for Foster Care:
(559) 582-3241 Ext. 2334
|
Benefit Services Division:
The Human Services Agency's Benefit Services Division provides a variety
of assistance programs mandated by federal, state and local statutes,
regulations and ordinances. The Division is responsible for implementing
rules and regulations as directed from both the State Department of
Social Services and the State Department of Health Services. Services
are offered from the Agency’s main office in Hanford, hospitals
located in the county, Hanford mental health office, family resource
centers, health clinics and field offices in Avenal and Corcoran.
John
Semas, Deputy
Director - Benefit Services Division
Antionette Gonzales, Program Manager - Benefit Services Division
Aida Guzman, Program Specialist - Benefit Services Division
Tina Ayala, CalWORKs/Food Stamps Ongoing
Rita Nunez, Medi-Cal/Food Stamps Ongoing
Art Taft, Training Unit
Brandon Moreno, Medi-Cal/Food Stamps Intake
Jennifer Brooks, Medi-Cal/Food Stamps Ongoing
Teri Camara, Corcoran Services - generic
Alice Schumacher, Overpayments and Collections
Irene Mello, Hospital Outstations, Mental health, Foster Care
Pat Huizar, CalWORKS/Food Stamps/GA Intake
Dennis Desjarlais, CalWORKS/Food Stamps Ongoing
There are two division segments specializing in program services:
Cash Programs:
This division segment provides cash benefits under
the CalWORKs Program, the County's welfare reform program. With its implementation
in January 1998, CalWORKs linked the Aid to Families with Dependent Children
(AFDC) and Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) programs into a single
program, funded by federal TANF and state CalWORKs funds. CalWORKs requires
a reinforced focus in employment services as a first offering to applicants
for cash assistance.
Medical Assistance Programs:
This division segment provides linkage
to medical services as mandated by the Department of Health Services
and County Medical Services Program. Also provided by this segment
are the county’s General Assistance Program, indigent burials,
California Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) and other programs
meeting basic
needs and health services.
The Benefit Services Division also administers the Food Stamp Program
to needy households in Kings County based on federal rules.
|
|
Mission Statement
- To
protect the children and adults of Kings County who are at risk
- Promote
safety and well being of the families of Kings County to achieve
family permanence, stability and self-reliance.
- To
provide temporary economic assistance for those in need.
- To
provide comprehensive employment and training services that promote
personal responsibility, insure self-sufficiency, job retention
and self-esteem.
|
Special Investigations Unit
Maricruz Clement, Supervising Investigator
The Special Investigation Unit consists of one Senior Investigator
and seven Investigators. The primary function of the unit is to
detect and prevent Welfare Fraud and misuse of funds. Three investigators
function as Early Fraud Detection Investigators, clearing potential
fraud cases at intake level. They also investigate all Homeless
Assistance applications. Using a “High Risk” format, cases
are referred to the SIU by the Intake Workers. Investigators then
make unannounced home visits before aid is approved to verify all
aspects of the application. This process started in 1989 and has
been an excellent tool in the prevention of fraud. Three investigators
are Field Investigators and investigate all referrals of suspected
fraud from all sources in aid to Families with Dependent Children,
Food Stamps and County Medical Services Programs. The unit receives
an average of 95 referrals per month. One investigator functions
as the Court Investigator and refers all fraud cases to the District
Attorney’s Office for prosecution. He gathers all evidence
and writes the case reports on each case. He also coordinates all
witnesses and acts as liaison between the Human Services Agency
and District Attorney’s Office.
|
|
Fiscal Division
Hal Hunter, Fiscal Manager
Carmen
Varela, Fiscal
Analyst
Fiscal Division
Fiscal and statistical services are centralized within the Kings
County Human Services Agency in the Fiscal Division. The division
is responsible for the budgeting, monitoring, and reporting functions
for the Agency, both at the County and State levels.
The annual budget totaling approximately $42 million is prepared
under the direction of the Fiscal manager and includes appropriations
for cash assistance payments, as well as for administrative activities.
In addition to its budgeting function, the Division is responsible
for gathering information for statistical and fiscal purposes for
the Agency, and reporting on a monthly and quarterly basis to the
Department of Social Services. Annually, a proposed County administrative
budget is prepared and submitted to the Department of Health Services
for funding purposes.
The Fiscal Division
is responsible for the payment of Agency claims and purchase orders
on an ongoing basis. Quarterly, the Division prepares an administrative
expense claim to report administrative expenses and staff hours
expended in the performance of Agency functions. The Division maintains
a number of data bases to gather its statistics which assists in
the timely reporting that is required.
The Fiscal Division
monitors and tracks revenues due the Agency, from a variety of sources.
The responsibility for billings and collections of debts owed to
the County due to inadvertent overpayment of assistance has been
transferred to the Overpayments Collection Unit of the Agency which
utilizes the COVERS PC system.
Home | Links | Disclaimer
Kings County © 2006
|
|
Employment and Training Services (ETS) Services
The Human Services Agency’s Employment and Training Services (ETS) Division was established to emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, employment and self-sufficiency for adults receiving assistance under the CalWORKs program. Formerly known as Welfare to Work (WTW), the program underwent extensive revisions in 2007 to allow more individualized services for participants.
CalWORKs requires a reinforced focus in employment services as a first offering to applicants for cash assistance. This focus is further stressed by legislation limiting time on aid to a maximum of 60 months. All persons receiving cash aid are assessed for their work history, aptitudes, preparedness, barriers and need for Supportive Services, such as child care, assistance with transportation, and mileage reimbursement. Screening for possible learning disabilities is conducted and referral to appropriate services made, when indicated.
Participants in the ETS program may be referred for educational services, training, referral for employment, mental health, substance abuse treatment and supportive services. The plan for each participant is individualized based on the assessment results, local labor market needs and available services. Referrals to local intervention services are also available for victims of domestic violence and their families.
Employment services include Employment Essentials (applications and resume writing), Job Readiness (interviewing skills, dressing for success), Job Retention, and Supervised Job Search. The program also includes "Pathways to Success" workshops, which are designed to educate participants on community resources and provide information in basic life skills that prove to be barriers to self-sufficiency. The workshops include modules for decision making, personal health, legal issues, nutrition, stress management, self-esteem, mental health/domestic violence services, substance abuse, financial planning and housing assistance.
As participants become employed and ineligible for cash benefits, the agency may provide continuing Supportive Services, including ancillary and transportation services, for up to one year so that the participant can retain his/her job. Child care is often available beyond one year for those participants who continue to meet income requirements.
A full range of ETS services are offered in the Main Office in Hanford and at field offices located in Corcoran and Avenal.
|
Welfare to
Work (WTW) Services
The Human Services Agency’s Welfare To Work (WTW) Division was
established to emphasize
the importance of personal responsibility, employment and self-sufficiency
for adults receiving assistance under the CalWORKs program.
CalWORKs requires a reinforced focus in employment services as a first
offering to applicants for cash assistance. This focus is further stressed
by legislation limiting time on aid to a maximum of 60 months. As a means
to encourage employment, and divert families from aid and into employment,
all able-bodied adults applying for cash aid must first become engaged
in a work activity, usually the program’s Job Search workshop and
become involved in job search.
All persons receiving cash aid are assessed for their work history, aptitudes,
preparedness, barriers and need for supportive services. Screening for
possible learning disabilities is conducted and referral to appropriate
services made, when indicated.
Participants in the WTW program may be referred for educational services,
training, referral for employment, job services (job search and job club),
mental health, substance abuse treatment and supportive services. The
plan for each participant is individualized based on the assessment results,
local labor market needs and available services. Referrals to local intervention
services are also available for victims of domestic violence and their
families.
Beginning on October
1, 2004, the program will also include an intensive Life Skills activity
which is designed to educate participants on community resources and
provide information in basic life skills that prove to be barriers
to self-sufficiency. The activity will include modules for decision
making, personal health, legal issues, nutrition, stress management,
self-esteem, mental health/domestic violence services, substance abuse,
financial planning and housing assistance."
Once persons become employed and becomes ineligible for cash benefits,
the agency may provide continuing supportive services, including child
care, ancillary and transportation services, for up to one year so
that the participant can retain their job.
A full range of WTW services are offered in the Main Office in Hanford
and at field offices located in Corcoran and Avenal.
|
|
