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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES | 107

New Government Affairs Office Informs and Advocates for Legislative Priorities

T he Government Affairs Office was established in Fiscal Year 23/24 to expand relationships with legislators and stakeholders, and to communicate policy priorities on issues impacting the nearly 1.2 million lives DPSS serves each year. Government Affairs Officer, Leah Sams, says the office is focused on coalescing the legislative platform across the department’s various divisions and ensuring internal and external priorities align with the strategic goals of DPSS and Riverside County.

“We are increasing our collaboration with the County Executive Office, California counties, and many others to make sure DPSS remains a strong voice for the community’s needs and priorities at local, state and federal levels,” Sams says. The Government Affairs Office will also play an important role in the department’s continuous quality improvement initiatives by automating and streamlining legislative tracking and amplifying advocacy for customers’ needs. “We want to make sure we have a seat at the table and that our legislative voice is established, and eventually represented in Sacramento,” she says.

Leah Sams, Government Affairs Officer