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Department of Social Services
Public Guardian Conservator/ Public Administrator
Compassion + Action = Support
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
The Madera County Department of Social Services– Public Guardian oversees various programs intended to serve residents of Madera County. The available programs benefit children, families, and individuals living with disabilities, as well as the elderly and the unemployed. I would like to extend my gratitude to your Board for backing our initiatives and to our hardworking staff who provide top-notch services for our clients. The Department is dedicated to collaborating with our community and partners to help families access services that improve their quality of life.
Deborah Martinez
Sincerely,
Deborah Martinez
Director
Committees/Affiliations
- Community Action Partnership Madera County – Board Member
- Madera County First 5-Commissioner
- CWDA Executive Board of Directors
- County Medical Services Program (CMSP) Governing Board
- Live Well Madera County Executive Team
Deputy Director-Self Sufficiency, Welfare-to-Work, Hearings, Public Authority, Public Guardian, Staff Development, Quality Control and Support Staff
Committees/Affiliations:
- California Welfare Directors Association of CA
- Madera Homeless Implementation Committee
- Madera County Growing Healthy Families
- Madera County Local Child Care and Development Planning Council
Vivian Garcia
Deputy Director-Adult Services Department, Adult Protective Services, and IHSS
Committees/Affiliations
- Madera Local FEMA Board
- Advisory committee Local Aging and Disability Action Plan (LADAP)
- Juvenile Justice Coordination Council (JJC)
Steve Duckworth
Deputy Director (LCSW)-Child Welfare Services, Child Protective Services, Resource Family Approval, Adoptions
Committees/Affiliations
- County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA)
- State Plan Work Group (ICWA)
- Growing Healthy Families Co-Chair
Nickie Matus
Sectors of Social services
Self Sufficiency
&
Employment Services
Office of
Public Guardian
Child Welfare
Services
Adult Services
Serving with heart
Mission:
The Department of Social Services (DSS) and Public Guardian provide services designed to strengthen the lives of families and individuals in Madera County.
Vision
Department staff, along with community partners, guide families in finding and implementing solutions to challenges as they navigate barriers to self-sufficiency and family functioning.
SCOPE OF ALL SERVICES
PIT (Point In Time Count)
eligibility sERVICES
Medi-Cal
Clients
75,203
15,719
2,550
CalFresh
Clients
CalWORKs
Clients
cHILD wELFARE sERVICES
Adoptions
Clients
Child Welfare
Services Clients
50
415
ADULT SERVICES DIVISION
1,260
Adult
Protective
Services Clients
In-Home
Supportive Services Clients
3,111
Office of pUBLIC gUARDIAN
Public
Guardian
Clients
259
2023 overview
Employees
396
Total
Clients
98,567
Total
Budget
$113,665,576
Total: 396
Staff Demographics: Race, Gender, Age
CALWORKs
CalWORKs is California's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare program aiming to connect parents to employment for self-sufficiency. It provides cash aid to families with children deprived of parental support. The program provides access to Medi-Cal and CalFresh benefits. Adults are limited to 48 months of cash assistance, while children can receive aid beyond that. Participation in the Welfare-to-Work program is required for non-exempt adults.
CalWORKs Education Program
Madera County CalWORKs students are enrolled in county-approved education/training programs, paid work-study jobs, and participate in job preparation workshops. Students may receive:
- Counseling
- Financial assistance
- Child care
- Transportation assistance
- Job placement assistance
DSS Program Managers
Samantha Mejia-Martinez
Employment and Training Worker over Cal-Learn Program
DSS Story
I had two Cal-learn participants that were a couple that recently graduated with their high school diploma this past June of 2023. Cal-Learn provided these teen parents guidance and an opportunity to participate in parenting classes. Our program also allowed them to provide support to each other when it came to their education. In addition, they also had the support from their families as well. The teen mom’s career goal after getting her high school diploma was to continue her education to become a Probation Officer. Our impact on their lives will have a lasting effect.
WELFARE TO WORK
Madera County Department of Social Services Employment Services (WTW) program assists CalWORKs recipients with tailored job readiness training, job search assistance, and vocational training. It offers personalized employment plans, referrals to support services, and provides essential assistance like child care and transportation to promote sustainable employment and self-sufficiency.
“I am the beholder of my own story and I can choose how it is told.”
DSS Story
Valeria G- Welfare-to-Work Client
I moved to Madera two years ago and within those two years Madera Welfare-to-Work services helped me tremendously in achieving my career goals by helping me get into Valleybuild a program that gave me various certifications and a new career opportunity in the construction industry. I completed the program and am currently on the waiting list to become an operating engineer. I have learned valuable skills that have made me a more confident woman and interviewer. A woman once told me “it’s so easy to speak good about other people, yet so difficult to speak highly about yourself” and it is so true. Before joining Welfare-To-Work I had very little experience in interviewing and would often find myself holding back a lot. I learned I have to “sell myself and my worth” because I know my own limits, successes and achievements. I am the beholder of my own story and I can choose how it is told. I am a success of achievement, determination and dedication. My dreams have not stopped yet and I am blessed to have such an amazing worker. Sabrina has guided and supported me in my journey. I wish to one day be an advocate for all those women who think starting over in a new career cannot be possible because it is possible and it is so rewarding to know you can be more successful than what you think. Thank you to Madera County and all of their amazing services and support because without you, I would not have been able to have this amazing opportunity.
CALFRESH
The CalFRESH Program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides monthly benefits to purchase food for low income households, regardless of age or family size. Since 2003, benefits have been issued via EBT card, which works like a debit card at authorized retailers.
MEDI-CAL
Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid, provides health insurance to low-income families, elderly individuals, foster children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and those with specific conditions such as HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. CalWORKs families receive free Medi-Cal benefits, while others may need to contribute based on their income.
HEALTH NAVIGATORS
NUMBER OF MEDI-CAL RECIPIENTS 2023
75,203
PIT (Point in Time Count)
Health Navigators Team
The Medi-Cal Navigators Project was relaunched in 2023. To engage with the community, the Navigators advertised their services on various billboards throughout Madera County. Moreover, they engaged in 98 outreach events and conducted 8 presentations with Community-Based Organizations during the same year.
GENERAL ASSISTANCE
General Assistance (GA) is a program that provides aid to people who are not eligible for other assistance programs, but may be financially insecure and are unable to support themselves, due to a disability.
Persons who have applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, but have not yet received monies, may qualify for GA as interim assistance until their SSI is allowed.
The GA program, which is mandated by law, is solely funded with County funds that may ultimately be reimbursed with retroactive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or State Supplementary Payment (SSP) benefits once the claim has been allowed.
Interim Assistance Reimbursement
IAR from SSA: | |
Reimbursed Amounts: | $20,943.00 |
housing Programs
The Housing and Homelessness Division (HHD) under California Department of Social Services (CDSS) oversees housing programs in California, providing technical support to enhance service efficiency and secure affordable housing statewide.
HOUSING SUPPORT Program (HSP)
The Housing Support Program (HSP) provides financial aid and comprehensive housing-related services, such as rental support, housing guidance, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving expenses, interim shelter aid, legal assistance, and credit restoration.
1,091
Referrals
Received
2023
153
Clients
Served
2023
Eligibility Housing Team
Housing Grant Programs
- Bringing Families Home
- Home Safe
- Housing Disability Advocacy Program
- Transitional Age Youth Housing
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Adult Services Division Team
Adult Protective Services (APS) provides services to elders (62 or older) and dependent adults (18 through 64 years of age) who are unable to protect themselves and provide for their own needs, such as those with mental, physical or cognitive impairments.
Client Referrals
1260
Investigations
1000
Dependent and Elder Abuse can take on many forms such as, but not limited to:
- Neglect (including self-abuse)
- Financial abuse
- Abandonment
- Abduction
- Physical/Sexual abuse
- Other treatment resulting in pain and mental suffering
IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES
The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides services to aged, blind, or disabled persons who are able to remain independent in their own homes with some assistance in daily living tasks.
The services authorized through IHSS include everyday chores, such as:
- Housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Laundry
- Grocery shopping
- Personal care services (bathing, and paramedical services)
In 2023 IHSS served
3111 individuals
In 2023 IHSS had
2948 providers
FIrst DSS hosted Senior Social
DSS Story
Sandy, a registered IHSS provider for her son Curtis, who has a developmental disability, assists him with essential daily living tasks such as meal preparation, personal hygiene, and medical supervision. Curtis needs constant attention, which hinders Sandy from taking on a full-time job. As Curtis has reached adulthood, the IHSS program allows Sandy to care for him as his official caregiver. This setup guarantees that Curtis receives the same love and care he always has, while also offering Sandy a more stable source of income.
Curtis- IHSS Receipient
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Child Welfare Services (CWS) aims to prevent child abuse, neglect, and exploitation by connecting families with services, assessing safety risks, and providing preventive measures. CWS focuses on preserving and reuniting families.
Child Welfares Services include:
- Emergency Response
- Family Maintenance
- Family Reunification
- Permanent Planned Living Arrangement Services
Allegation
Type
Number of CPS
Referrals
3277
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
The Department of Social Services aims to offer early intervention and prevention services to families in danger of Child Welfare intervention. They collaborate closely with community partners such as the Madera County Child Abuse Prevention Council and First 5.
Outcomes
of CWS Referrals
Number of Children
in Active CWS Cases
in 2023
415
Independant Living Program Team
DSS hosted a Resource Carnival at James Monroe Elementary School
Resource Family Approval
Foster Care provides care for children removed from home due to abuse or neglect. It aims to place children with non-custodial parents or relatives first, then in County Foster Homes or Foster Family Agencies if needed. The goal is to find a permanent home quickly to reduce time spent in the child welfare system, as required by Federal regulations.
Resource Family Approval Team
Youth in Out-Of-Home Care
255
Number of Resource Family Homes
86
86
13
13
8
8
15
15
Madera
Chowchilla
Oakhurst/ Coarsegold
Approved out of County
Angel and Jesse
Resource Family
DSS Story
Angel and her husband Jesse embarked on their journey as resource parents in August 2022. Currently, they have one child in their care. Angel shares that some days over the last six months have been quite tough. She collaborates closely with the social worker, seeking guidance and advice to provide the best possible support to the child. Despite the difficulties, Angel expresses that she believes this path aligns with her family's purpose and is contemplating adoption through RFA. Her advice for individuals considering becoming a resource parent is “if you have the calling, don’t give up and don’t take it personally.” She emphasizes that although it presents challenges, they are making a positive impact on these children's lives by offering comfort, consistency, and reliability.
Adoptions
From July 2022 to June 2023, 18 adoptions were finalized in Madera County. Currently, 7 adoption celebrations took place on November 3, 2023. In addition, 5 children have adoption paperwork being completed. Plus, 19 children with the goal of adoption. The Madera County Social Services Department participates annually in National Adoption Month. November is annually designated as National Adoption Month, aiming to raise public awareness and highlight the importance of finding permanent families for children and youth in the Foster Care program. This month provides an opportunity for the community to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of relatives, foster families, adoptive families, social workers, county agencies, public and private adoption agencies, as well as community partners who collaborate to secure a brighter future for children in need of care.
Adoptions Team
Adoptions
Fiscal Year 22/23
25
Public Guardian Team
Public Guardian/
conservator/ administrator
The Office of the Public Guardian safeguards individuals unable to manage their affairs. The Public Guardian can serve as a Conservator by court order, ensuring the best living situation for each person according to the Probate and Welfare and Institutions Codes.The Public Administrator handles the estates of those who die without a will, locating rightful heirs or managing the estate according to the California Probate Code if no heirs are found.
Contact us
Madera County Social Services
1610 Sunrise Ave.
Madera, CA 93638
Child Welfare Services
(559) 662-8300
FAX: (559) 675-7983
Adult Services
(559) 662-2600
FAX: (559) 675-5065
Madera County Social Services – Chowchilla
125 S. 2nd Street
Chowchilla, CA 93610
(559) 665-0205
FAX: (559) 665-0288
Madera County Social Services
1620 Sunrise Avenue
Madera, CA 93638
Eligibility And Employment Services
(559) 675-2300
FAX: (559) 675-7690
Office of Public Guardian
(559) 662-8891
FAX: (559) 662-8920
Madera County Social Services – Oakhurst
40232 Junction Drive, Suite 200,
Oakhurst, CA 93644
(559) 395-0404
Board of supervisors proclamations
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January is recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Madera County recognizes the significant moral, physical, and economic harm of forced labor and human trafficking within our community.
Social Worker Appreciation Month
The Madera County Department of Social Services would like to take time to recognize Social Workers and their contributions to individuals and families in Madera County.
Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month
April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness month, emphasizing the significance of collective efforts to prevent child abuse within families and communities.
Resource Family Appreciation month
May 2023 is National Resource Family Appreciation Month, a commemorative event to recognize the role Resource Families play in a child's life.
Elder Abuse Awareness Month
National Adoption Month
California has designated June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to shed light on the different forms of elder abuse and promote awareness.
November is National Adoption Month, aiming to raise awareness about the need for permanent families for children and youth in Foster Care.
