CDSS Office of Equity requests two permanent positions to support refugee youth, EEO investigations

2716009 · March 20, 2025

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Summary

CDSS’s Office of Equity asked the subcommittee for $407,000 total funds and two ongoing positions—one for immigrant youth coordination and one for equal employment opportunity investigations—to address increasing workload and backlogs.

Eliana Kamowitz, director of the Office of Equity at the California Department of Social Services, presented a budget change proposal requesting two permanent positions and $407,000 in total funds (including $188,000 general fund ongoing) to support growing workloads.

Kamowitz said the Office of Equity houses the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson, Office of Tribal Affairs, Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Civil Rights Accessibility and Resource Equity Office, the Immigrant Integration Branch, and the Office of Immigrant Youth. The requested positions would staff the Office of Immigrant Youth—supporting federal compliance for resettlement of refugee children, eligible parolees, and unaccompanied minors—and add capacity to reduce a backlog of EEO investigations.

LAO and DOF

Juwan Trotter representing the LAO said at this time the LAO had no concerns to raise about the request. Thomas Locke of the Department of Finance likewise offered no immediate objections but said DOF staff would respond to questions as needed.

Ending

No committee votes occurred. CDSS said the positions are intended to maintain compliance and reduce administrative backlogs that affect program delivery to refugee and youth populations.