“[image: ] April 5, 2019 VIA E-mail Only TO: Genevieve Richardson, Bay Area Legal Aid,
[email protected] Dorothy Alther, California Indian Legal Services,
[email protected] Jose Padilla, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.,
[email protected] Patience Milrod, Central California Legal Services,
[email protected] Estela Casas, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance,
[email protected] Darrell Moore, Inland Counties Legal Services,
[email protected] Silvia Argueta, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles,
[email protected] Kate Marr, Legal Aid Society of Orange County,
[email protected] Greg Knoll, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc.,
[email protected] Gary Smith, Legal Services of Northern California,
[email protected] Neal Dudovitz, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles,
[email protected] And to Others Whom It May Concern Dear Executive Directors and Others: The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has a long history of collaboration with its program advocates, stakeholders, and the people we serve. Millions of Californians every year are touched by the programs we oversee or operate, which include, but are not limited to, the programs listed on the attachment to this letter. Out of the imperative to make fully informed decisions, the CDSS has created an inclusive culture of regularly soliciting input from numerous perspectives, both formally and informally. For this purpose, the CDSS hosts various meetings as needed, convenes periodic stakeholder meetings, engages in informal reviews of all-county letters and similar instructions or communications, and formally promulgates regulations under California’s Administrative Procedures Act or other applicable state law. Since at least 1998, California’s Legal Services Corporation (LSC)-funded programs always have been, and continue to be, invited to participate in these CDSS-organized engagements. The LSC-funded programs are a valued partner in the appropriate and responsible delivery of services to beneficiaries of the programs and services overseen or operated by the CDSS. The Department appreciates and continues to invite their participation in these various efforts as they occur, and similarly continues to invite their input outside of these efforts as well, when LSC-funded programs deem it appropriate. Questions regarding this letter can be directed to me, at (916) 657-2598. Sincerely, PETE CERVINKA Chief Deputy Director [bookmark: _GoBack] Attachment Non-Exclusive List of COSS Programs and Services California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs, California’s federal Temporary Aid for Needy Families program) CalFresh (California’s federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program) Refugee programs Subsidized child care Statewide Automated Welfare Systems (SAWS) and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems Children and Family Services (including prevention, intervention, in- and out-of home placement, reunification and other permanency options, and transitional planning and housing, all for children and youth ages 0-21) Supplemental Security Income \/ State Supplementary Payment (SSI\/SSP) In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS, the nation’s largest Home and Community Based Services Medicaid program) Adult Protective Services Deaf Access program Guide Dog Food for the Blind program Community Care Licensing (non-medical day and residential programs for children, adults, and seniors) Drought and Emergency Food Assistance programs State Hearings (providing client due process for 22 different public programs) Civil Rights Ay STATE OF CALIFORNIA\u2014HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY A DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES CDSS 744 P Street * Sacramento, CA 95814 * www.cdss.ca.gov PAT LEARY GAVIN NEWSOM ACTING DIRECTOR GOVERNOR ”