Crystal Shackleford leads the Riverside County Child Assessment Team or RCCAT and Jennifer Kopfler is a Deputy Director in the Children's Services Division at Riverside County DPSS. Both are passionate about efforts to prevent child abuse and are discussing services available at the facility which serves victims & families as well as ways the public can take action to protect at-risk kids from child abuse.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

21-year-old Marcy Palomar is forging a path to a brighter future, thanks to the dynamic partnership between RivCoDPSS and RCOE’s School of Career Education. Listen as Marcy shares her story and her hope for the future. Also, experts from DPSS (Ken Sandefur) and RCOE (Trisha Jenkins) take a deep dive into how this hands-on program works and how it can help others find fresh careers and a new beginning in life.  

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

On the latest episode of the department's podcast, The Service Station, Moreno Valley mother Rosa Cisneros shares how DPSS' Linkages program helped her find a path to economic independence and close her Child Protective Services case after she suffered domestic -- a crime her children witnessed.
 
In the podcast, one of Rosa’s case workers, Employment Services Counselor Lisa Duran,  Lisa shares how the program has progressed  and the rewards of helping Rosa and customers like her.
 
 Listen here! Have an idea for a podcast? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSComm@rivco.org 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Cada mes, ladrones roban millones de dólares de los californianos más necesitados. Escuche cómo un agente del Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos del Condado de Riverside describe cómo la gente puede protegerse del delito conocido como "skimming" y cómo se adopta un enfoque proactivo para reducir este crimen y prevenir de que siga ocurriendo en la comunidad. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Millions of dollars in food and cash benefits are stolen from Californians, including in Riverside County, every month. 

Listen as the Chief from the Department of Public Social Services and his welfare fraud investigators describe how customers can protect themselves from a crime known as “skimming” and how Riverside County DPSS is taking an aggressive, proactive approach to reduce this crime and protect customers. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

In this episode, social workers from a specialized crisis team in Adult Services share how they’re helping seniors and adults with disabilities get off the streets and into affordable housing. Vulnerable adults are also accessing services that can improve their quality of life thanks to Crisis Response and Intervention Services (CRIS). 
 
Listen as Clarissa, a 28-year-old, shares the challenges she faced while experiencing homelessness with disabilities for 10 years and how Social Services Practitioner Leah Sams broke barriers to help house Clarissa.  
   
Sams isn’t the only CRIS team member sharing the rewards of this work in the podcast. Social Services Supervisors Renee Saldana and Marcela Javier took referrals for at-risk adults during this year’s Point-in-Time Count and discuss the team’s work and what drives them to help our most vulnerable year-round. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

A partir de mayo de 2022, los adultos mayores de 50 años que viven en California pueden solicitar para Medi-Cal, sin importar su estado migratorio. En este episodio, hablaremos acerca de esta expansión histórica y como el Departamento de Servicios Sociales del Condado de Riverside se unió al Centro Legal TODEC para lanzar una campaña para informar a la comunidad sobre este cambio. Van a oír lo dice una experta sobre el Medi-Cal y a la directora de TODEC sobre lo que significa esta victoria que se ha luchado muchos años para conseguir. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

As of May 2022, Californians 50 and older can apply for Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status. In this episode, experts offer insight on this historic expansion, what it means for immigrant communities, and how more Californians are access preventative services and health care through Medi-Cal.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Steven Baker's life with his family was restored. He was able to reunify with his daughter after receiving wrap-around care from Riverside County Children Services, RUHS Behavioral Health and Mental Health Collaborative Courts. Baker went through treatment for substance use disorder and reunited with his young daughter with help from the county's Family Preservation Court program. Listen to his inspiring story.



 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Ana Hernández, técnica de elegibilidad del Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos (DPSS) del condado de Riverside, destaca cómo CalFresh y Welfare-to-Work estabilizaron su vida y luego la llevaron a una carrera en DPSS. Ahora, comparte con los residentes de Blythe y del condado de Riverside los beneficios de estos programas, con la esperanza de que ayuden a otros.
 
Este episodio también presenta un informe especial sobre el Programa de Comidas en Restaurantes. El dueño de un restaurante comparte cómo lo ayudó CalFresh y por qué está ofreciendo acceso a EBT en su pizzería de Desert Hot Springs, una de las más de 200 ubicaciones en todo el condado que aceptan EBT.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Ana Hernandez, an Eligibility Technician with Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS),  highlights how CalFresh and Welfare-to-Work stabilized her life, then led to a career at DPSS. Now, she’s sharing with Blythe and Riverside County residents the benefits of these programs, hoping it’ll help others.
 
This episode also features a special report on the Restaurant Meals Program. A restaurant owner shares how CalFresh helped him and why he’s offering EBT access at his Desert Hot Springs pizzeria, one of over 200 countywide locations to accept EBT.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

En un día cualquiera, hay más de 3000 niños y adolescentes que necesitan un hogar seguro y amoroso en el condado de Riverside. Faith in Motion tiene contratos con el Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos del condado y trabaja con más de 200 comunidades religiosas para guiar y apoyar a las familias interesadas en la crianza temporal y la adopción. En este episodio, hablamos con  Noemi Amezcua de Faith in Motion. Ella analiza cómo funciona la asociación para apoyar a los niños y las familias. Amezcua también comparte su historia de lo que la inspiró a criar y adoptar niños. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

On any given day, there are more than 3,000 children and teens in need of safe and loving homes in Riverside County. Faith in Motion contracts with the county’s Department of Public Social Services and works with more than 200 faith-based communities to guide and support families interested in fostering and adoption. On this episode, Faith in Motion Manager Irene Capen discusses how the partnership works to support children and families. Capen also shares her story of what inspired her to foster and adopt children. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Más personas, incluidos jóvenes y adultos jóvenes, hablan de salud mental. Pero, ¿dónde encuentra los servicios disponibles en el condado de Riverside y cuáles son las formas en que nuestras comunidades pueden reducir el estigma para quienes necesitan servicios de salud mental? En este episodio, el educador de larga data y reciente Comisión de Salud del Comportamiento, José Campos, brinda el apoyo disponible para los adultos jóvenes que lo necesitan. También analiza el papel que desempeña la oficina del Public Guardian y los conceptos erróneos sobre las tutelas que están destinadas a ayudar a quienes no pueden cuidar de sí mismos. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

More people, including youth and young adults, are talking about mental health. But where do you find the services available in Riverside County, and what are ways our communities can reduce stigma for those who need mental health services? In this episode, longtime educator and recent Behavioral Health Commissioner José Campos provides the support available to young adults in need. It also discusses the role of the Public Guardian's office and misconceptions about guardianships that are intended to help those who cannot care for themselves.
 
 If you need mental health services in Riverside County, help is available. Call the CARES Line at (800) 499-3008 and the staff at RUHS Behavioral Health will help you determine your next steps. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

En este episodio de “La Estación de Servicio”, una terapeuta bilingüe del Centro de Niños de Bárbara Sinatra explica el vínculo entre el abuso infantil y la trata humana en el este del Condado de Riverside y cómo los traficantes atrapan y engañan a sus víctimas. La invitada al podcast da consejos y habla de los servicios disponibles para niños, jóvenes y familias en el Valle de Coachella. También aborda la estrecha colaboración entre el Centro y el Departamento de Servicios Sociales del Condado de Riverside, para cuidar a niños que hayan sufrido de abuso o maltrato. Si sabes de alguien que haya sufrido de la explotación sexual o laboral, llama en cualquier momento al 1-888-373-7888.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

In this episode of “The Service Station,” two experts from Barbara Sinatra Children's Center explain the link between child abuse and human trafficking in eastern Riverside County and how traffickers ensnare and deceive their victims. Guests provide prevention tips and services available to children, youth and families in the Coachella Valley. They also discuss the close collaboration between the Center and Children’s Services, a branch of the Department of Public Social Services, to care for children victimized by abuse or maltreatment.

Know someone who needs help? Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline anytime at 1-888-373-7888.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Stephanie Bryant, a maternal health leader with Riverside County Department of Public Health, discusses the impact of systemic racism on Black newborns and mothers. Bryant also chats with theServiceStation about ways county partners and professionals are working together to improve health outcomes, including through the county's Black Infant Health Program.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Dos trabajadores que atienden a los niños y adultos más vulnerables del Condado de Riverside comparten su pasión por el trabajo social y la recompensa de ayudar a los demás en este episodio de “la Estación de Servicio”. 

Octavio Ramírez López y María Olvera se encuentran entre más de 1.300 trabajadores sociales del Condado de Riverside, una de las regiones más grandes y diversas del país. 

Ambos invitados de origen mexicano describen cómo las experiencias de la infancia influyeron en tomar la decisión de elegir una vida de servicio humanitario y un llamado a ayudar a otros en crisis.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Two social workers who serve Riverside County’s most vulnerable children and adults are sharing their passion for service and the rewards helping people heal in this episode of 
theServiceStation. 

Octavio Ramirez Lopez and Maria Olvera are among more than 1,300 social workers serving in Riverside County, one of the nation’s biggest and most diverse regions. 

Olvera investigates cases of child abuse and neglect. Ramirez Lopez assists adults who’ve suffered abuse or neglect.  

Both guests on the show describe how childhood experiences shaped their decision to choose a life of public service and a calling to help others in crisis. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

 Monique Guerra ha luchado contra la falta de vivienda desde que tenía solo cinco años hasta que llegó a la universidad. Ahora, a sus 23 años, Guerra comparte sus experiencias vividas en el podcast “la Estación de Servicio” para crear conciencia e inspirar cambios en el Condado de Riverside a fin de reducir el sinhogarismo. 

Ella anima a que los voluntarios se inscriban para participar en el Conteo de Personas Sin Hogar de 2022 el 23 de febrero y específicamente en el de los jóvenes, que está programado del 23 al 25 de febrero. Los voluntarios pueden apuntarse para cualquiera de los dos conteos en MoreThanACount.org. 

El conteo sirve para conocer la situación a las personas sin hogar en la región, tanto albergadas como sin albergue. El Gobierno federal utiliza los datos para determinar los niveles de financiación, evaluar las necesidades locales y vigilar el progreso para reducir la falta de vivienda.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Monique Guerra struggled with homelessness from the time she was just 5 years old until college. Now, at age 23, Guerra is sharing her personal experiences on theServiceStation podcast, to raise awareness and inspire change in Riverside County.

She's encouraging volunteers to sign up for the 2022 homeless Point-In-Time Count on Feb. 23 and specifically the Youth Count, which is scheduled from Feb. 23-25. Volunteers can register for either count at MoreThanACount.org.

The Point-in-Time Count offers a snapshot of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals across the county. The federal government uses the data to determine funding levels, assess regional needs and monitor local progress in reducing homelessness. 

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

En este episodio de "theServiceStation", un hombre de Riverside revela cómo su sueño de tener una familia propia se hizo realidad. Oscar Lozano, de 35 años, se convirtió en padre por primera vez cuando adoptó a una prima segunda a la que llamó Ava, que ahora tiene 19 meses. Lozano comparte cómo había estado pensando en acoger o adoptar durante un tiempo cuando un familiar le pidió ayuda a fines de diciembre de 2019.

Este episodio también presenta a una segunda invitada, Ida Roath, que destaca la Galería Heart del condado de Riverside, una exhibición creada para encontrar hogares para siempre para los niños en hogares de crianza.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

In this episode of “theServiceStation,” a Riverside man reveals how his dream of having a family of his own came true.  Oscar Lozano, 35, became a dad for the first time when he adopted a second cousin he named Ava, now 19 months.  Lozano shares how he had been thinking about fostering or adopting for a while when a relative asked for his help in late Dec. 2019.

This episode also features a second guest, Ida Roath, who highlights Riverside County’s Heart Gallery, an exhibit created to find forever homes for children in foster care.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.

Este mes estamos hablando de un nuevo sistema de elegibilidad de todo el estado que afectará a cientos de miles de clientes. El sistema actual que se utiliza para solicitar y administrar los beneficios, conocido como C-IV, se convertirá en CalSAWS, el Sistema Automatizado de Beneficios de Bienestar Social de California.

El 27 de septiembre, C4Yourself, la plataforma en línea que los clientes utilizan para solicitar y administrar beneficios como CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, cambiará a BenefitsCal. BenefitsCal será una ventanilla única para solicitar beneficios públicos vitales y este episodio habla sobre los beneficios que los clientes pueden esperar y cómo pueden prepararse para el cambio.

Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube @RivCoDPSS! Have an idea for an episode? We’re all ears! Email us at DPSSInfo@rivco.org.