Santa Cruz County Human Services Department

Our Services

ADULT & LONG TERM CARE

We protect and care for the disabled and elderly.

EMPLOYMENT & BENEFITS

We provide services and benefits to low-income adults and families.

FAMILY & CHILDREN

We protect children from abuse and neglect to keep them safely at home.

HOUSING FOR HEALTH

In partnership with our community, we help find stable, safe, healthy places for residents to live.

FOSTER CARE & ADOPTIONS

We work with families who want to foster and/or adopt children in need of a safe home.

IHSS PUBLIC AUTHORITY

We work with caregivers who provide in-home supportive services (IHSS) as part of the IHSS registry.

VETERANS SERVICES

We assist veterans, military retirees, and their families in obtaining benefits earned by military service.

WORKFORCE SCC

A local partnership that serves job seekers and businesses.

Learn more

Family and Children’s Services Division

Family and Children’s Services provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, or who are at risk of abuse or neglect. Child welfare services focus on child safety, child and family well-being, and permanent homes for children.

Our first priority is always to keep children safely in their own homes with their parents. If that is not possible, children are placed in foster or relative caregiver homes until their own families can care for them again or they are placed for adoption. We work collaboratively with many local agencies and community partners to support and strengthen families and keep children safe in Santa Cruz County.

Child Protective Services (CPS)
Foster Care and Adoption Services
Kinship Care
Transitional Age Youth

To report child abuse or neglect, please call:

Toll Free at 1 (877) 505-3299 or (831) 454-2273
Available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.
If this is an emergency dial 911 for immediate assistance.