DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Children’s Services Division

Assistant Director’s Message

I am proud of the strides Children’s Services made this past year to enhance the safety and well-being of children and families.

Bridgette Hernandez

With more than 1,300 staff in our division, most of them social service practitioners and supervisors, Children’s Services ad vances equitable child welfare practices grounded in dignity, accountability and measurable results. More children who enter foster care are remaining with relatives and extended family, preserving the relationships, cul ture and stability that support safety and resilience. Keeping children connected to their communities remains one of our most effective strategies for reducing the impacts of separation on those who cannot remain safely at home. This year also brought significant ad vancements in protective and preven tion services. In partnership with the Administrative Services Division, we es tablished the Office of Child Abuse Pre vention, or OCAP, to lead innovative up stream strategies. OCAP is connecting us to local communities in new ways to identify conditions that place children at risk and develop solutions that strength en families before harm occurs.

Real-time data are giving us a clearer un derstanding of our communities’ needs. By analyzing patterns and risk factors, we are working to ensure investigative resources are directed to families expe riencing harm, while connecting others with community-based supports that promote safety, resilience and positive long-term outcomes. We expanded our service integration and continuum of care for youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation by increasing specialized interventions and housing supports. In partnership with San Bernardino County, we launched the Children’s Crisis Contin uum Pilot to develop a trauma-focused system of care that provides intensive care, qualified supervision and behavior al health services in the home environ ment, including on-site crisis response. Our youth in foster care also achieved exceptional educational milestones. A total of 148 youth earned their high school diplomas in 2025, and 16 were ac cepted into four-year universities. These accomplishments far exceed statewide

averages and reflect the determination of our young people and tremendous support from their social workers and partners including the Riverside County Office of Education, Project Graduate and Probation. We remain joined with county and state wide child welfare advocates to inform decision makers about the critical needs facing our youth and families, strength ening resources and improving out comes for every young person we serve. I am grateful for the Children’s Services team and the heart they bring to their work, to one another and to the children and families of Riverside County. Assistant Director Children’s Services Bridgette Hernandez

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