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Deputy Director – Aging, Disability and Older Adult Services

COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA (CWDA)

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) is recruiting for a Deputy Director – Aging, Disability and Older Adult Services. The Deputy Director will be responsible for policy analysis, program implementation, and federal and state advocacy activities in support of the In-Home Supportive Services Program, Adult Protective Services Program, and related programs administered by county human services agencies.

Please click on the link below to see the full job description and how to apply. 

Budget Priority

CWDA on Cash Assistance for CalWORKs Families in Family Reunification Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) respectfully requests $9.0 million General Fund (GF) on an ongoing basis to provide CalWORKs cash assistance grants to eligible parents whose children have been temporarily removed from the home and placed into foster care, for a period of up to 180 days, while the families are engaging in reunification efforts with the county child welfare agency. This funding will enhance the ability of these parents to successfully reunify with their children.

Federal Update

CWDA Applauds President Biden’s Move to Reverse Cruel Public Charge Rule

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) of California released the following statement from Executive Director Cathy Senderling-McDonald today after President Biden signed an executive order that takes the first steps toward reversing a Trump administration rule that can result in immigrants who receive aid from certain public programs being denied entry to the country and/or being barred from obtaining lawful permanent resident status (i.e., a green card):

Budget Priority

CWDA on Full Funding for the Resource Family Approval (RFA) Workload in the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) True-Up Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) requests your full funding for the workload associated with performing the state mandated Resource Family Approval (RFA) process as part of the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) True-up. The current estimate of these costs is $80 million General Fund (GF) annually, although we are in the process of gathering specific cost data for the 2018-19 fiscal year, the year of CCR costs that are being reconciled now.

Budget Priority

Child Welfare Services: Family First Prevention Services Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) and Children Now jointly request an augmentation of $50 million General Fund (GF) in FY 2021-22, and $100 million on-going, to build locally driven services and supports for children, youth and families at risk of entering foster care. The goal of this effort is to keep families safely together and prevent the need for entries into the foster care system whenever possible.

Budget Priority

Flexibilities for CDSS Administered Housing Programs Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) respectfully requests your consideration of several statutory changes to housing programs administered by the California Department of Social Services and county human services departments, including the Housing Support Program (HSP) and the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP).

Budget Priority

Global Telephonic Signatures Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) respectfully requests $5 million General Fund (GF) ($4 million one-time and $1 million ongoing) to support implementation of a global telephonic signature solution for human services programs. 

Budget Priority

Reduce Senior Homelessness: Expand and Enhance Adult Protective Services (Early Action Request) Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) and Justice in Aging respectfully request the Legislature take early action due to the pandemic to augment and expand the Adult Protective Services CAPS) Program to meet the growing needs of older adults who are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. We respectfully request $25 million GF in the current year and $100 million ongoing for the APS and Home Safe Program. This population is growing fast, as are cases with increasingly complex needs, including those who are homeless or cognitively impaired.

Budget Priority

Flexible Funding for County Human Services Department- Administered Housing Programs Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) respectfully requests your consideration as part of the early action on the budget a $100 million one-time General Fund augmentation for county human services departments to create a flexible funding pool to fill service delivery gaps in the housing programs that the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and county departments currently administer. The housing programs specifically serving those linked to the state’s social safety net programs are critical to the success of those programs. 

Press release

CWDA Selects Cathy Senderling-McDonald as Next Executive Director
Current deputy brings more than 20 years of human services policy experience to the job

Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) today announced the selection of Cathy Senderling-McDonald to lead the organization as Executive Director effective January 1, 2021.   

She will step into the new role after 20 years at CWDA and having served as Deputy Executive Director since 2010, where she has been at the forefront of legislative, budget and policy changes that improve human services programs and the delivery of those services to vulnerable Californians.

 

CWDA New Executive Director Press Release 12-1-2020 (Full Release)

Photo of Cathy Senderling-McDonald

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Longtime CWDA Executive Director to Retire at Year’s End
Frank Mecca has led organization since 1991; numerous achievements in fighting poverty and improving Californians' lives

Sacramento, CA – Executive Director Frank J. Mecca announced today that he will retire at the end of this year following a nearly thirty-year career with the County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA).  In the role of Executive Director since 1991, Mecca built CWDA into a powerhouse policy and budget advocacy organization for California’s county human services agencies and the people they serve. 

CWDA Executive Director to Retire at Year's End (Full Press Release)

Picture of Frank Mecca

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CWDA Statement on Final 2020-21 State Budget

“Governor Newsom and the Legislature have come together to avoid the deepest cuts to the vital safety net programs that Californians are counting on as they face the continued, dual threats of COVID-19 and the deep recession caused by the economic shutdown,” said CWDA Executive Director Frank Mecca.

Full statement:

CWDA Statement on 2020-21 Budget Agreement

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Could You Be Eligible for CalFresh?
San Diego County Human Services Expert Explains

In an NBC7 – San Diego segment aired on June 16, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency’s Chief of Eligibility Operations discusses the current need for food assistance and how CalFresh can help.

San Diego saw a 40 percent increase in applications for the program during April and May.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/investigations/nbc-7-responds/you-might-qualify-for-food-assistance-programs/2348092/

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CWDA Submits May Revision Response to Legislature
Memo Details Critical Budget Priorities for County Human Services Agencies

The release of the Governor’s May Revision last Thursday brings into stark relief that which we all already knew – the COVID 19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our state budget and economy, not to mention the toll it has exacted on the health and personal economy of so many Californians.

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Budget Update #3: May Revision Summary

CWDA has posted Budget Update #3. This update contains a summary of key human services and health related changes of interest to county human services agencies proposed in the Governor’s May Revision, released on Thursday, May 14.

CWDA Budget Update #3 - 2020-21 May Revision

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CWDA Statement on Governor’s May Revise Proposal
Proposal Maintains Most Essential Assistance for Vulnerable Families; Federal Support Essential for Child Welfare Services

CWDA Executive Director Frank Mecca released a statement on the May Revise budget proposal released today by Governor Newsom.

Read the statement here:

CWDA Frank Mecca Statement on May Revise 5-14-2020

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CWDA Statement on Senate Budget Plan Released 5-12-20
Executive Director Frank Mecca Praises Approach, CWDA Ready to Assist Legislature, Governor

The California Senate today released a blueprint for approaching the state budget in light of significant revenue declines forecast by the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Department of Finance.

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Beware of Fake Letter Circulating
Letter contains false claims regarding public assistance applicants and beneficiaries and COVID-19

The California Department of Social Services has made CWDA and county human services agencies aware of false information being circulated on social mediate related to those receiving public benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter states that individuals receiving services are required to be tested for the virus (this is false) or lose their benefits (also false). The letter also states that individuals testing positive through this process will have their children taken into the foster care system (this is false). The letter links to a fake website.

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CWDA Letter to Congress on 4th COVID Relief Package
Association sets forth a number of priorities to help vulnerable Americans

Today, the County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) urged Congressional leaders to invest in a number of human services, nutrition, health and homelessness programs to support families in economic crisis during the coronavirus pandemic.

Read More:

CWDA Letter to Congressional Leaders: COVID 4 Package Priorities – May 4, 2020

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CWDA Puts Forth May Revise Budget Priorities for County Human Services Agencies
Memo Sets Out Key Issues and Considerations for Governor, Legislature

CWDA sent a memo on Friday, May 1 to Governor Newsom and the Legislature, along with other key decision-makers, outlining priorities for the upcoming May Revise and budget deliberations.

The memo outlines recommended priorities, taking into consideration the effects of COVID-19 on the individuals and families that county human services agencies help. 

CWDA 2020-21 May Revise Priorities

Blog post

State Must Prepare for Human Crisis to Persist Beyond COVID-19

Many of us are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic through stories in the news, our social media feeds or our sparing trips out of the house to buy groceries or take-out.  At CWDA, we have a different view of how the pandemic is unfolding — through the data and frontline experiences of our county human services programs serving vulnerable Californians and families.