Message to Our Community

January 1, 2021

Dear County of Ventura Community Members:

I would like to thank each of you for your extraordinary efforts and sacrifices during this past year to stay safe and embrace new ways of connecting with services. Nothing is more important than ensuring the health and safety of our staff, our clients, and the entire community.

Although this pandemic is not yet behind us, we can move forward into 2021 optimistic that our community will overcome the challenges we face by working together, maintaining a high degree of vigilance in following public health guidance, and being resilient.

One of the keys to being resilient is taking the measures people need to rest, recover and look after themselves. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of ways to connect with services to help, such as temporary cash aid, food assistance, health insurance, employment resources, and mental health assistance. I hope that you will read through it and connect with the services you or a loved one may need through these difficult times.

Wishing you and those around you are and remain safe and healthy throughout the new year and beyond.

Sincerely,

Melissa Livingston
Director

HOW TO CONNECT WITH SERVICES

The Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA) is available to meet your essential-service needs through our secure online portal, by phone, and by mail or drop-off services.

If you have concerns for a child or older adult, please call our hotline anytime, day or night, at 805-654-3200.

Mental Health Resources
Find helpful tips for self-care, guidance on how to build healthy habits, how to honor feelings of anxiety and fear, and information on where to turn when it feels overwhelming at wellnesseveryday.org; through California Hope at calhope.dhcs.ca.gov or 888-317-HOPE (4673); by calling or texting 2-1-1; or visiting vchsa.org/community-resources.

CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief and Medi-Cal
mybenefitscalwin.org or 888-472-4463 or Drop Box/Mail-In*

*Paper applications with self-addressed stamped envelopes are available outside all Community Service Center locations, or you can call 888-472-4463 during business hours to request a paper application, which includes a postage-paid return envelope.

In-Home Supportive Services
We are so grateful to our IHSS providers who continue to provide essential care and support to our communities’ most vulnerable residents.

To apply for IHSS services, call 805-654-3236.
Current IHSS clients needing assistance can call the officer of the day at 805-654-3260.
Those interested in providing in-home supportive services can call 805-654-3416.

Veteran Services
vchsa.org/vets or 805-477-5155

General Information
vchsa.org or 866-904-9362

Employment Resources
Employers and job seekers can access a complete set of employment tools through the CalJOBS Ventura Portal for America’s Job Center of California at venturacountyajcc.org.

Children and Family Services
Our CFS staff remain available to meet your essential service needs virtually, as well as in-person. We want all our staff, caregivers and families we serve to stay safe, so prior to meeting in person, we will continue to ask you screening questions. Please follow all universal precautions when meeting with our staff. Please direct questions to your Child Welfare Social Worker.

Farmworker Resource Program
FRP is using WhatsApp and Facebook to share information. Please address any questions or concerns related to COVID-19 for the agricultural community to AGCOVID19INFO@ventura.org.

Additional Resources
For more helpful resources that can be accessed remotely, remember to routinely check out venturacountyrecovers.org and HSA’s COVID-19 Resource List for up-to-date links to basic needs services and other free or low-cost resources available to you during the coronavirus health emergency.

Message to Our Community

Message to Our Community

Useful Links