DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Adult Services Division

IHSS Social Worker of the Year

Family Values Inform Edgar Beltran’s Service

Edgar Beltran, the In-Home Support ive Services Social Worker of the Year, is being recognized for his compassion, advocacy and commitment to vulner able adults and the colleagues he sup ports. Beltran said his calling to social work grew from values he learned in his family and community. “Growing up, I always wanted to give back,” he said. Beltran once assumed social work focused mostly on children, but learning about the needs of old er adults and people with disabilities opened a new path. Supporting vulnera ble adults, he said, “really resonated with me.” IHSS social workers conduct profession al in-home assessments to determine the needs of at-risk individuals who rely on caregivers to help with daily activities and live more independently. They work with public agencies, community part ners and service providers to safeguard vulnerable adults from fraud and abuse and to connect them with resources, oversight and long-term support. Su pervisors say Beltran excels in this work, bringing patience, cultural understand ing and a calm, solutions-focused ap proach to every client. His commitment is deeply personal. “I saw my grandparents and other older family members struggle with housing, being evicted because they could not afford a home. I always wished I could help them break that cycle,” he said. “I wanted to understand what resources were available to help them find a stable home.” Colleagues say Beltran’s lived experi ence fuels his empathy and strengthens his ability to build trust with clients who often feel overlooked. They describe him as a steady presence who listens closely, follows through and treats every person with dignity.

This year, Beltran emerged as a key contributor to his region’s success. Col leagues highlight his role in the rollout of the IHSS CMIPS services portal, where he volunteered to pilot the services por tal and provided detailed feedback that helped shape the division’s decision to adopt the use of an iPad device to easily access IHSS forms during home visits. As a mentor in Region 4, Beltran creat ed templates and tools to improve pro cesses. Colleagues say his guidance improved consistency, confidence and teamwork across the region.

He also steps in wherever support is needed. Beltran helped reduce the reas sessment backlog by taking on overtime work and learned the Intake process so he could assist with those cases. Su pervisors describe him as proactive, thoughtful and committed to continu ous learning. For Beltran, the heart of the work remains simple. “Social work is about compassion in ac tion, building relationships and offering resources that change lives,” he said. “Seeing progress and hearing ‘thank you’ is what makes it all worthwhile.”

IHSS Regional Social Workers of the Year Jose Garibay................................................................................... Region 1 Alexa Zingg.....................................................................................Region 2 Romel Maaia.................................................................................. Region 3 Kalieha (Kali) Moore........................................................................ Region 5 Janelle Beltran............................................................................... Region 6 Viviana Gonzalez.............................................................................Region 7 Laura Castro-Gonzalez.......................................Central Intake Center/HOME

Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025

31