The In Home Supportive Services Public Authority (IHSS:PA) in Fresno County provides in-home care services to elderly and disabled individuals to help them live independently. It receives funding from federal, state, and county sources. On average, it serves over 11,000 recipients and providers per month. The IHSS:PA's mission is to ensure basic needs are met for all individuals through services like meal preparation, cleaning, and hygiene assistance. It aims to serve Fresno County's diverse population through language interpretation and cultural understanding.

1. In Home Supportive Services: Public Authority By Alma Navarro Social Work 180

2. Fresno County IHSS: Public Authority Address: 2025 E Dakota Fresno CA 93726 2 nd floor of the Senior Resource Center. Reception phone number: (559) 600-5750

3. Mission and Aim The Fresno County Department of Social Services (DSS) serves some of the most dynamic, ethnically and culturally diverse services to ensure that individuals and families will be safe, self sufficient, healthy, out of trouble at home, in school or at work. AIM is to provide basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, and healthy environment to the diverse population of Fresno County. The IHSS:PA works specifically with the elderly and disabled people who meet qualifications.

4. Funding IHSS receives its funds through: Federal level (Medicare) State of California (Medical) Fresno County provides funding for it as well as help run it. Totals for Sept 2011 (this month only) Hours Worked : 1,094,553.7 Paid Amount: $12,071,580.64 Average number of new IHSS Providers enrolled per month: 550

5. Organizational Structure Department of Social Services In Home Supportive Services Recipient: Elderly or disable person who meet IHSS qualifications Public Authority Provider: family member, friend, or someone who is prescreened and cleared for background check

6. Social Justice Public Authority (PA) works closely with In Home Supportive Service Program (IHSS) to provide for the elderly and disabled throughout Fresno County to remain independently in the comfort of their homes. Basic assistance is provided in the following types of services typically authorized: Meal preparation Cleaning Laundry Errands Hygiene needs and Bathing

7. Community Context of Agency Helps provide assistance with independent living. Deals with providing orientations to new providers and assisting in helping providers fill out their time sheets correctly. Assist in trying to resolve issues of conflict if they arise between Recipient and Provider.

8. Population at risk in Fresno County Elderly 65 years of age or older. Disabled For Fiscal Year 11-12 up to Sept 2011: Average number of cases: 11,885 Average number of IHSS Providers 11,502 Average number of hours per recipient: 92.5

9. Agency’s Practices PA provides training and orientation to new Providers in a variety of languages: Spanish, Hmong, and Armenian. PA performs background checks on Providers. The PA is responsible for maintaining a registry on database of authorized and approved in home care Providers. Assist Recipients if they need help in the interview process when trying to hire a new Provider.

10. Social Justice Goal is to meet the basic needs for the elderly and disabled to help maintain their human dignity and remain independently in the comfort of their home. Goal is to help server the diversity of clients regardless of their nationality with interpretations in their native languages to help address their needs.

11. Adult Protective Services phone number 24 hours: 1-800-418-1426 or (559) 600-3383