The County of Orange Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) recently marked its 1-year anniversary of serving vulnerable populations by spotlighting personal stories of hope and perseverance and reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting residents across the region.

Held at Newsong Church in Santa Ana, OIRA’s anniversary event brought together more than 160  residents and community leaders from various cultures and backgrounds to celebrate the unique characteristics, stories and contributions of refugee and immigrant residents in Orange County. 

Since April 2024, when Director Jose Serrano took the helm, OIRA has helped nearly 5,000 Orange County residents through a variety of direct services, including referrals to immigration legal assistance, food and nutritional aid, and housing support.

“OIRA helps create belonging, collaboration and economic prosperity across Orange County,” said OIRA Director Jose Serrano. “Immigrants and refugees bring with them many talents, innovations and skills. Sometimes, additional tools are needed to help them achieve their full potential. OIRA is committed to ensuring all residents, regardless of background and country of origin, have access to services and support that empower them to thrive and uplift others.”

Orange County has long been a refuge for those fleeing violence, war and economic upheaval across the globe. Today, more than a third of Orange County’s 3.2 million residents are immigrants, paying 
$10.5 billion annually in taxes, according to the American Immigration Council. An estimated 77,000 immigrant entrepreneurs call Orange County home.

“Refugees and immigrants bring a wealth of culture and diversity to Orange County, and contribute and help sustain its economic growth,” said OC Board of Supervisors Chair Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “OIRA has been instrumental in supporting immigrants and providing refugees with the tools and resources they need to rebuild their lives.”

Among the residents supported by OIRA is Maribel Toan, a local resident who was brought to the U.S. by her parents from Mexico when she was a child.

“OIRA is oxygen for our community,” said Toan, co-founder of The MIX Academy, a nonprofit providing free food, services and educational programming — including cooking, sports, arts and language classes — to Orange County residents in need. “Many immigrants are seeking educational and professional opportunities so they can support their families and become productive members of our communities. We’ve been able to partner with OIRA to create spaces for learning and hope.” 

Established by the Board of Supervisors in April 2023, OIRA supports the County’s immigrant and refugee communities in accordance with requirements of state and federal law to help them gain stability and self-sufficiency. 

“Knowing the County has a place where immigrants can collaborate, listen and dream has been a treasure,” Toan added. “The work being done by OIRA is essential, especially in our society today.”   

The Orange County Older Adults Needs Assessment Report has been posted to the Board of Supervisors’ March 11, 2025 agenda. This report is aimed at understanding and addressing the evolving needs of Orange County’s growing older adult population.

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New Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards featuring security upgrades will soon be on the way to residents, better protecting them from fraud while enabling them to buy nutritious, healthy food with greater confidence.

The new Golden State Advantage cards are being rolled out by the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) in partnership with the California Department of Social Services. The cards include embedded microchips containing encrypted data, making it significantly more difficult to steal information through skimming devices, and allow users to make contactless payments at participating retailers. 

Cardholders can either tap their card against a retailer’s card reader or insert the chip and enter their PIN for secure transactions. The new cards can be used by residents receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other food and cash aid benefits at most grocery stores and online grocery merchants, including Walmart and Target. 

Distribution of the new cards begins Monday, February 24, 2025, with eligible individuals and families receiving their updated EBT cards in the mail at their home address through the coming months. Not all recipients will receive their cards at the same time. Cards will be activated upon first use, and all existing benefits will automatically transfer to the new cards. A client’s old card will be deactivated 180 days after their new card has been issued. PINs will remain unchanged.

While most retailers accept the updated security features, some may still require the use of a magnetic stripe. Cardholders should first attempt to use the chip or tap features and then follow the card reader’s on-screen prompts if necessary. 

For questions, card usage issues or to report lost or stolen cards, cardholders are encouraged to contact the EBT Customer Service Helpline at (877) 328-9677. Benefits can be managed at ebtedge.com.

Orange County parents can learn how to keep their children safe from sexual exploitation and human trafficking at a hybrid workshop this week. 

The workshop, labeled Know More, Do Better for Parents and Caregivers, will cover the signs of a child being groomed, how to talk to children about body safety and healthy relationships, and when to get help from professionals.

“As parents, we do everything we can to protect our children from harm, and that effort extends to the digital realm,” said Jyothi Atluri, Division Director, Children & Family Services for County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA). “Having experts who regularly work with those affected by human trafficking together in one room brings a wealth of knowledge for parents and those caring for children.” 

The event, from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025, will include the following speakers:

• Linh Tran, Supervisor, Waymakers and Task Force Administrator, Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF)
• Lisa Delamater, Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Coordinator, SSA
• Ruthi Hanchett, Adjunct Professor teaching human trafficking prevention courses at Vanguard University and coach for Live2Free and Safe Communities, Safe Kids Program
• Kendra Tankersley-Davis, MS, Vice President of Development and Community Relations at Crittenton Services for Children and Families, Adjunct Professor teaching Human Trafficking 101, Survivors Aftercare and CSEC at Vanguard University, and an instructor for Safe Kids, Safe Communities Program

“To properly address human trafficking, caregivers need to understand the tactics that perpetrators use and, just as importantly, how to communicate effectively with their children and teens about the people they interact with — both online and in person. Anyone can fall victim to trafficking, and disturbingly, perpetrators often hide in plain sight,” said Michelle Heater, Program Director with Waymakers, which co-chairs OCHTTF with the Anaheim Police Department.

Several groups, including SSA, OCHTTF, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, OC Probation, Waymakers, Crittenton Services for Children and Families, and Vanguard University will host resource tables with more information for parents and caregivers. 

Saddleback Church, Anaheim Campus, 2095 E. Katella Ave., is providing the space for in-person attendance and refreshments. The workshop will be offered in English and Spanish.

The workshop is being put on by SSA, OCHTTF, Global Center for Women & Justice at Vanguard University, and the Orange County Department of Education. 

To attend in-person or online, RSVP in English or Spanish.

Due to the sensitive topics presented, it is not recommended for children to attend as the content and discussion are formatted for parent and adult learning.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) will change its call center hours starting February 7, 2025. The new call center hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Clients are able to apply for and access their current Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs or General Relief benefits 24 hours a day at BenefitsCal.com. 

Residents who want to apply for public assistance benefits or make changes to their case information can call 800-281-9799 Monday through Friday. Customers can also visit an SSA regional office from 8 a.m. to 
5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Update: The Hot Food Waiver has been extended to March 10, 2025. 

CalFresh recipients can use their benefits to buy hot, prepared food at authorized retailers through February 8, 2025, thanks to a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) requested the waiver to help residents impacted by the recent fires. The hot food waiver applies to seven counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Riverside and San DIego

All Orange County households and individuals receiving CalFresh benefits are eligible to buy hot, prepared food with their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards at authorized retailers. A list is available here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator. Hot foods purchased during this period will not be subject to sales tax. 

For more information on CalFresh’s disaster response, visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/disaster-calfresh.

To apply for or check on cases for CalFresh, Medi-Cal CalWORKs or General Relief, visit BenefitsCal.com or call 800-281-9799.

The 30th Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County is now available. The report offers a comprehensive portrait of the conditions of health, economic well-being, education and safety of Orange County’s children. 

As a means for better understanding the state of children’s health, two new indicators have been added to the report: child care and perinatal behavioral health. 

Affordable, consistent child care is vital to child development and family financial stability. In 2023-2024, the number of early child care spaces in Orange County is at a decline while the cost of child care continues to increase, demonstrating a lack of accessible child care.

 A close look at perinatal behavioral health shows a 55.9% increase in referrals for substance-exposed infants to the Social Services Agency. Unborn babies exposed to substance use face long-term challenges, including premature birth, low birth weight, a higher risk of congenital anomalies and developmental and behavioral concerns. 

Mental health also continues to be a challenge during pregnancy; indicators show a modest recent rise in depression, with 15.1% experiencing depression during pregnancy and 11.2% postpartum. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and postpartum psychosis can inhibit parents' ability to care for themself and bond with their newborn. Talking about these concerns and creating an understanding social environment may encourage more parents and families to seek mental health treatment and support.

The following areas have shown improvement in the lives of local youth:

• Good Health: The percentage of uninsured children continues to drop to 3% as access to regular care improves. Rates for 2-5-year-olds enrolling in licensed child care are at a 10-year high, and 95.6% of children enrolling in school are adequately immunized by kindergarten. 
• Education:  Orange County high school graduates have consistently higher rates of college readiness compared to the state average. The percent of college ready students increased for the 11th straight year and is now at 57.3%. 
• Economic Well-being: The number of children receiving CalWORKs in Orange County stabilized after eight years of decline. In 2022-2023, 3.3% of children received CalWORKs assistance, a 47% decrease from 6% of children from 2013-2014. 
• Safe Homes and Communities: The rate of foster care placements in permanent homes within 12 months improved, exceeding the national standard. Juvenile crime rates also decreased with the number of arrest rates per 100,000 youth down to 458 arrests in 2022.

While much progress has been made, continued areas for focus include behavioral health, chronic absenteeism, racial and ethnic disparities and insecure housing, among others. Reports of depressed-related feelings, sadness and hopelessness continue to rise in students. Chronic absenteeism is at a slight decline from the previous year; however, the numbers remain elevated, with the highest rates among students enrolled in Foster Youth and Homeless Youth. 

Post-pandemic family stability continues to waver across Orange County, seriously affecting the health and growth of the children in our community. Understanding the key factors impacting our children leads to awareness and progress, bettering our community for current and future generations. 

To read the full report, visit ssa.ocgov.com.

The Families and Communities Together (FaCT) Annual Report covering July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, is now available. 

The report highlights the impact and achievements of FaCT’s 16 Family Resource Centers (FRCs) alongside FaCT action committees in supporting the County’s efforts to ensure children in Orange County grow up in secure, nurturing families and safe, supportive environments. 

A public-private partnership between the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) and Charitable Ventures, FaCT plays a vital role in the County’s work to help at-risk families and children thrive, striving to prevent child abuse through family strengthening and support services, such as counseling and parenting classes. 

More than 11,000 residents and 4,600 families received services in the last fiscal year. The report highlights the 63,610 referrals FaCT provided for services such as food assistance, basic needs, mental health counseling and health insurance. 

FaCT resources also include comprehensive case management services, educational and training programs, and advocacy and community engagement, bringing together a network of community-based organizations to engage residents, deliver direct services, and fund development and professional training on best practices.

The FaCT platform has served the Orange County community for over 29 years. 

To read the report or for more information, visit www.factoc.org. 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency’s Adult Services office moved to a new location at 2020 W. Walnut St. in Santa Ana, on October 7, 2024. The office, previously housed on Warner Avenue, supports Adult Protective Services (APS), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and IHSS Public Authority programs. APS provides services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse and the exploitation of adults unable to protect their own interests because of age or disability. IHSS provides a wide range of domestic and personal care services to allow persons with disabilities and elderly individuals to live safely at home. IHSS Public Authority provides the elderly, blind and individuals with disabilities assistance in finding a prescreened homecare Provider who will enable them to live independently and remain safely in their homes.

This change is anticipated to have minimal impact on Adult Services clients. In addition to contacting their assigned case worker, SSA clients and providers can continue to utilize the following options:

• Report elder/adult abuse by calling 800-451-5155
• For more information on services, call 714-825-3000
• Apply for IHSS services over the phone or by downloading an application at www.ssa.ocgov.com/IHSS/Apply and submitting by:
  • Email: IHSSapplications@ssa.ocgov.com
  • Fax: 714-825-3001
  • Mail: PO Box 22006, Santa Ana, CA 92702

The County Community Service Center in Westminster, 15496 Magnolia St., is closing effective noon Wednesday, September 25, 2024. 

Clients can continue to contact their assigned case worker or obtain services through:

• BenefitsCal.com, the new statewide portal to apply for and check on benefits,
• SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799, available from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, or
• Other SSA offices: https://www.ssa.ocgov.com/about-us/office-locations/office-location-list.

For additional information on SSA programs, visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.