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Mendocino County highlights social‑work programs and proclaims March 2025 Social Work Appreciation Month
Summary
Department of Social Services staff described in‑home supportive services, adult protective services and wraparound and welfare‑to‑work programs; the board read and adopted a proclamation recognizing March 2025 as Social Work Appreciation Month and voted to accept the presentation.
Mendocino County Department of Social Services staff briefed the Board of Supervisors on the department’s adult and children’s social‑work programs and the county proclaimed March 2025 as Social Work Appreciation Month.
Hannah Lee, social worker supervisor for Adult and Aging Services, described services that helped keep vulnerable older adults in their homes. Lee said the department had 1,150 in‑home supportive services (IHSS) applicants in 2024, received 1,592 adult‑protective‑services reports and made direct advocacy contacts to assist about 40 people with Social Security matters. Lee discussed case examples she said illustrated the programs’ role in preventing institutional placement and connecting clients to Meals on Wheels and IHSS providers.
Amanda Coggins, a social worker in the county’s wraparound program, described the program as a family‑driven, strengths‑based process that coordinates care for children with complex needs. Coggins said wraparound reduces out‑of‑home placements and helps youth improve academic and social outcomes by bringing the family’s service providers together and providing advocates for youth and parents.
Christina Griffith, supervisor of Welfare‑to‑Work, explained that staff help families receiving cash aid develop self‑sufficiency through programs that assist pregnant and parenting teens (Cal‑Learn), family stabilization and chronic truancy interventions. Griffith described transportation and school‑engagement assistance, and a sanction‑prevention program titled SPIT (Sanction Prevention Improvement/Intervention in Transportation) that helps keep families connected to required program activities.
Director Dede Parker closed the department segment and thanked staff for after‑hours coverage and outreach, and Supervisor Norvell read a proclamation previously approved on the consent calendar recognizing March 2025 as Social Work Appreciation Month in Mendocino County.
Why it matters: county social workers provide intake, protective services, long‑term case management, support for elders and children, and specialized programs that county leaders said keep people safer in their homes and reduce higher‑cost placements.
Board action: the board voted unanimously to accept the presentation and file the proclamation (motion listed in meeting minutes). Staff invited the board and the public to note that program capacity is constrained by staffing and funding and asked the board to support resource requests during the budget process.
Speakers quoted in this piece are employees of Mendocino County Department of Social Services and are identified by their names and roles as recorded in the meeting.
Ending Staff will continue to report on program needs, and the CEO and board noted potential future budget impacts if state funding (federal Medi‑Cal or Older Americans Act reauthorization) is reduced.
