The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is a California state agency for many of the programs defined as part of the social safety net

Social safety net

Social safety nets, or "socioeconomic safety nets", are non-contributory transfer programs seeking to prevent the poor or those vulnerable to shocks and poverty from falling below a certain poverty level. Safety net programs can be provided by the public sector or by the private sector...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, and is within the auspices of the California Health and Human Services Agency

California Health and Human Services Agency

The California Health and Human Services Agency is the state agency tasked with administration and oversight of "state and federal programs for health care, social services, public assistance and rehabilitation" in the U.S. state of California. The agency is headed by the Secretary of the...

. Federal and State funds for adoption

Adoption

Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...

s, foster care, aid to the disabled, family crisis counseling, subsistence payments to poor families with children, child welfare services and many other efforts are distributed through this department. The department is headed by the Director, Will Lightbourne. Its mission is "to serve, aid and protect the needy and vulnerable children and adults in ways that strengthen and preserve families, encourage personal responsibility, and foster independence."

CDSS has more than 4,000 employees in 54 offices throughout the state and is responsible for:

• Ensuring efficient, accurate and equitable delivery of payments and benefits
• Providing services that foster self-sufficiency and dignity
• Providing social services to the elderly, blind, disabled and other children and adults
• Licensing and regulating foster homes, group homes, residential care facilities, day care facilities, child care facilities and preschools
• Evaluating eligibility of applicants for disability-related benefits for certain federal and state programs, including Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability and Medi-Cal.

Organization

The Department of Social Services is divided into 10 divisions. There are programs, branches and agencies which fall under the divisions:

• Administration
• Legal
• Children and Family Services
• Community Care Licensing
• Disability Determination Service
• Adult Programs
• Welfare to Work
• Human Rights and Community Services
• State Hearings
• Information Systems