DPSS News Nov 2020

DPSS CELEBRATES FIRST IN-PERSON COMMUNITY OUTREACH SINCE COVID-19 HIT

A spirit of gratitude filled the air Saturday as county and community service providers gathered at the James A. Venable Community Center in Cabazon, to address quality-of-life issues in the unincorporated community of some 2,500 residents. DPSS was represented by Adult Services, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and Self-Sufficiency who warmly greeted locals and provided onsite benefit-eligibility screenings at the Cabazon Resource Event and Community Clean-Up on Nov. 14. Organized by the County of Riverside Fifth District Supervisor Jeff Hewitt and the California Highway Patrol, the event was part of an ongoing effort to tackle blight, crime, and homelessness. Other participating county agencies included Animal Services, Behavioral Health, Code Enforcement, Housing Authority, Probation, Sheriff, and Waste Resources. “This is about help. It’s about helping the area, the residents, and the people who are really struggling,” said Fifth District Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, who district encompasses the desert-area community. DPSS assisted individuals and families with enrollment in CalFresh, CAPI, C.A.R.E., IHSS, and Medi-Cal. They also actively recruited for caregivers. “I am happy we were able to get out and meet with our customers face-to-face after many months of sheltering-in-place due to COVID-19,” said Guadalupe Serna, Eligibility Technician III from the Community Outreach Branch. “We want our customers to know that we are still here, ready to lend a hand.” In addition to the resource fair, there was a mobile flu shot clinic and multiagency teams that set out on foot to identify the homeless in need of wraparound services. “Thank you so much for all your efforts and taking time out of your weekend to make this happen,” said Kerri Mariner, West Desert Municipal Advisory president. “We, the Cabazon residents, appreciate all your support to make our community a better place to live, work, and learn.” Photo: Laura Espinoza (left) and Katherine Scholte, both Social Services Supervisors from APS/IHSS in Banning, participated in the Cabazon Resource Event and Clean-Up on November 14, 2020. Laura Espinoza (left) and Katherine Scholte, both Social Services Supervisors from APS/IHSS in Banning, participated in the Cabazon Resource Event and Clean-Up on November 14, 2020.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES