Family & Children Services- Monterey County DSS

Organization Description

The Monterey County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) administers over seventy programs that daily serve an estimated 100,000 residents of Monterey County. Department services include a variety of public assistance programs, employment services, and social services for children and their families, adults with disabilities, seniors, and military veterans. The Department is the designated agency responsible for the investigation of child, dependent adult and elder abuse in Monterey County. The mission of Monterey County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) is to promote the social and economic self-reliance of each individual and family we serve through:

  • Employment Services
  • Temporary Financial Assistance
  • Social Support Services
  • Protective Services to Children, Dependent Adults and Seniors
  • Partnerships with the Community to Develop and Support Social Change, Highlighting Personal Responsibility and Self-Sufficiency
Program Information

The Family and Children Services branch officers child protective services, foster care services, and adoption services to children and youth in Monterey County.  The mission of FCS is to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect.  Service goals strive to keep children and youth safe and within the protection of a permanent family.

CHHS students may assist with case activities and program support, but cannot carry cases of their own.

Projects may include: assisting with the development of internal policy and procedures known as Action Guides for the Call Center and Focus Functions, reviewing of performance evaluations to ensure consistency between the reviewers, tracking of staff performance for the purpose of identifying areas of weakness and opportunities to improve, identifying best practices to improve on the areas of weakness, improving processes and customer services, and assist with maintaining staff morale through various events and recognition. Interns will work side by side with Managers and supervisors for each of these projects.

Health & Safety

Students may do client home visits.  Students will shadow field instructors/other social workers in order to learn to assess for any health or safety risks.  Students will have access to trainings dealing with risks in their intern environment.
Additional requirements and/or considerations
  • Background Check (e.g. fingerprinting/livescan, driving record)
  • Fingerprinting
Address 
1000 S. Main Street
Salinas, CA 93901
United States
General Phone 
(831) 796-1534
Website:
http://mcdss.co.monterey.ca.us
Student Contact 
Name
Valencia Cameron
Job Title
Training Supervisor
Phone
(831) 755-8412
Email
cameronVA@co.monterey.ca.us
Program(s) 
CHHS
Organization type 
Administrative Entity (Government)
Focus Population(s)
Adopted/Foster Youth or Young Adults, Adults, Guardians/Parents, Seniors
Focus Area(s)
Advocacy and Human Rights, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice, Education, Emergency Services & Public Safety, Food & Housing Security, Health & Medicine
Additional Focus Area(s)
Legal Assistance, Activism, Career or College Exploration, Skill Development, Safety Education, Behavioral Health, Disability Support Services, Family Planning Services, Neglect Prevention and Intervention, Patient Advocacy
Additional site tags 
Social work, child welfare, foster care, adoption, parent education, family services
Maximum students 
5