Santa Clara County Social Services Agency

The County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency’s mission is to provide resources and opportunities in a culturally responsive manner to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting, educating, and empowering individuals and families. Our vision is to serve, empower, and transform.

Social Services Agency offers a significant number of services to county residents. 

Health Insurance:

• Medi-Cal Healthy Kids Valley Kids MCAP CoveredCA Confidential
• Youth Services
• Medi-Cal
• Medi-Cal is split into two program categories: Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) Medi-Cal and Non-MAGI Medi-Cal.
• Healthy Kids – Valley Kids
• Health care plans for children who do not qualify for Medi-Cal and do not have private insurance.
• MCAP
• Health coverage for pregnant women who do not qualify for Full Scope or Pregnancy-related Medi-Cal.
• Covered CA
• Health care portal for individuals who are over the income limit for Medi-Cal.
• Confidential Youth Services
• Confidential medical services are available to minors under 21 years of age through the Medi-Cal Minor Consent program

Financial Assistance

Help Buying Groceries (CalFresh Food)

• CalFresh Food is California’s name for the federal food program called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that used to be known as Food Stamps.
• CalFresh Food is a nutrition program for California residents with low income that increases your food budget. It allows you buy healthy food at most stores, such as food outlets, grocery stores, farmers markets and some restaurants.

Hot meals for older Adults (Senior Nutrition Program)

• The Senior Nutrition Program provides high quality, cost efficient, nutritious meals to seniors and promotes the role of nutrition in preventative health and long term care.
• Nutrition education is provided to seniors participating in the Senior Nutrition Program to support this promotional effort. All meals are planned to meet one-third of the daily recommended dietary allowances for adults. The meal plans are approved and monitored by a staff of Registered Dietitians.

Home Delivery (Meals on Wheels)

• Meals on Wheels delivers meals to homebound, older neighbors.
• As people age, accessing and cooking food can become a barrier to proper nutrition. If you or someone you know are unable to shop or prepare your own meals due to a physical or mental condition, and are homebound, the Meals on Wheels program may be a good option. The program provides meal service to homebound, older adults 60 years of age and older.

Financial Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (CalWORKs)

• California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) helps families with children and pregnant women in the last 6 months of pregnancy to meet basic needs.
• CalWORKs provides time limited cash assistance, childcare and health care coverage. This program also helps you find and keep a job, pay for education, and provides other services that will support your family, even after leaving the program.

Financial Assistance for Adults without Dependent Children (General Assistance)

• General Assistance (GA) is a program that is run and funded by the County of Santa Clara. GA provides cash assistance and employment services to Santa Clara County adults with no dependent children who have no other means of support.

Financial Assistance for Aged, Blind or Disabled Immigrants (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants)

• Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is funded by the State of California. CAPI provides cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled immigrants who are not eligible for the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Program due to their immigration status

Protective Services

Adult Protective Services

• Adult Protective Services (APS) provides services to prevent and remedy abuse. APS strives to reduce risk, maintain and enhance quality of life, promote self-sufficiency and respect the right to self-determination.

Child Protective Services

• Child abuse and neglect are defined by Federal and State laws. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is the Federal legislation that provides minimum standards that States must incorporate in their statutory definitions of child abuse and neglect. The CAPTA definition of “child abuse and neglect” refers to:
• “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
• The Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services provides services to protect, prevent and remedy abuse and neglect of children while advancing child and family safety and well-being. ​​​​​
  • DFCS Julian Campus Front Desk
    (408) 501-6300
  • Child Abuse / Neglect Hotline
    (408) 299-2071
    (833) SCC-KIDS(722-5437)
  • South County – Gilroy
    Main Number: (408) 758-3440South County – San Martin
    Main Number: (408) 846-5000

Safely Surrendered Baby

• The Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows a parent or person with lawful custody to surrender a baby confidentially, without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment. This law allows for at least a 14-day cooling off period, which begins the day the child is voluntarily surrendered. During this period, the person who surrendered the child can return to the hospital to reclaim the child.

Conservatorship

• Probate Conservatorships are primarily established for adults who are incapable of making decisions for themselves or managing their own finances or resisting fraud and undue influence. Most often, the adults served by the Probate Division cannot care for themselves due to dementia, traumatic brain injury, or other cognitive impairments.

Other Services

IHSS