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1923 – The Board of Supervisors establishes the Riverside Welfare Department on July 9 with an annual operations budget of $4,425.51. The agency and its two employees, including new Director Jane Dodge (left), work from the basement of the Riverside Historic Courthouse (left page) primarily to serve children without families. 1933 – During the Great Depression, California law requires counties to begin providing relief to the poor including healthcare services and general assistance. 1934 – Riverside County’s population reaches 81,000. More than 25,000 county residents are receiving social assistance. The average monthly benefit is $8. 1938 – The Welfare Department has 36 employees countywide, some of whom are parttime. Monthly salaries ranged from $213.75 for the Director and between $100 and $150 for case workers. 1942 – John McIntyre, 30, is appointed to replace the current director who was called up to serve in World War II. 1945 – The department adds its first child welfare services worker and marks the beginning of Children Services. 1973 – Riverside County’s population is 497,000. The Department of Public Welfare employs 750 employees in ten offices countywide and begins offering childcare assistance. Computers make their very early debut. 1974 – The Riverside County Department of Public Welfare is renamed Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to reflect a shift in focus from welfare to a stronger focus on self-sufficiency. 1975 – DPSS launches Adult Protective Services to include In-Home Supportive Services with 28 employees, now called Adult Services with 700 social workers and supportive staff. 2020 – The COVID-19 global pandemic emerges and hits Riverside County in early 2020. The unprecedented event transforms DPSS’ traditional business model into a 21st century workplace. 2024 – With 2.5 million residents, Riverside County is the nation’s tenth most populous county. DPSS has a professional workforce of more than 4,800 employees, serving almost 1.2 million residents annually. RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES | 9

The timeline is a snapshot that reflects only a handful of events. The highlights chronicled are based on available information.