Rules Committee Advances Jennifer Troia Nomation to Lead California Department of Social Services

SACRAMENTO — The California State Senate Rules Committee advanced the nomination of Jennifer Troia to be director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) on April 9, referring the confirmation to the full Senate after committee members questioned her about program enrollment, homelessness interventions and the timeline for a new child-welfare case-management system.

Troia told the committee she has worked more than 20 years on safety-net programs and that CDSS has made measurable gains while noting continuing gaps. She highlighted increased CalFresh participation and steps the department is taking to reach eligible but unenrolled Californians, including targeted outreach, language-access improvements and a streamlined application for older adults.

Committee members pressed Troia on timelines and program accountability. Senator Laird asked what the department has learned about boosting CalFresh enrollment among eligible but nonparticipating populations; Troia cited outreach efforts that helped raise participation…