Human Services Department Lobbies Open July 6 with Safety Measures, Limited Hours, Services

As Sonoma County Human Services Department (HSD) buildings reopen to the public on Monday, July 6, with limited hours and services, clients and employees will be required to follow Covid-19 safety procedures. Wearing masks or face coverings will be required in all buildings and indoor lobby access will be limited to ensure clients and staff can maintain six feet of physical distance. 

“We want to keep our staff and clients safe by minimizing face-to-face contact, so it’s still best if clients call us from home with their questions or go online to complete applications or submit documents,” says HSD Director Karen Fies. “We need to stay strong and protect each other from the virus.” Visitors can find contact information for each program on the HSD website, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services-Department.

Clients should also avoid in-person services if they are sick, Fies added, or have a frequent cough, fever, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, recent loss of taste or smell, or if they or someone they live with has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The largest HSD division, Economic Assistance, will open lobby services from 8 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday, at both 2550 Paulin Drive, Santa Rosa, and South County Center, 5350 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 100, Petaluma. Economic Assistance oversees Medi-Cal, CalFresh and General Assistance programs for the County.

For those who need in-person help, Division Director Felisa Pinson says safety protocols will mean that staff will first try to answer clients’ questions or service needs outside the building. Client paperwork can be placed in the secure drop-boxes at either building to limit contact with others.

To meet social distancing safety regulations in the lobbies, only one person per household will be allowed to enter at a time. Limited exceptions will be made for young children, caregivers and language interpreters who are accompanying a program client. 

“Only those without access to a phone or computer will be allowed inside to talk with a worker about immediate needs for Medi-Cal and General Assistance, EBT cards, expedited services or to complete applications using our phone or computer,” Pinson says. “We ask for your patience if lines outside the buildings are long.” There will be no seating inside either lobby, except for persons with disabilities. 

The lobby of the Employment and Training Division, 2227 Capricorn Way, Suite 100, Santa Rosa, will be open 8 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday. Entry will be restricted to three visitors at a time for SonomaWORKs and Job Link recipients. Services are limited to using a county telephone to contact staff and EBT replacement for CalWORKs. Job Link’s computer lab remains closed, and Employment Development Department (EDD) services are unavailable through July.

The lobby of the Family, Youth and Children’s Division, 1202 Apollo Way, Santa Rosa, will be open 8 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday. Entry will be limited to three visitors at a time for in-person reporting of child abuse or neglect, or to pick-up or drop-off paperwork for social workers. However, child abuse and neglect reports can be made 24/7 by phoning the hotline, (707) 565-4304.

The Adult and Aging Division, 3725 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa, will be open three days a week with limited services. Lobby hours will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Staff will assist visitors with their questions and make referrals to appropriate services and support.

To contact the Human Services Department by phone or learn about options for online services, call or visit:

• Adult and Aging Division: (707) 565-5900, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Adult-and-Aging-Division/
• Economic Assistance Division: (877) 699-6868, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Economic-Assistance/
• Employment and Training Division: SonomaWORKS: (707) 565-5500, Job Link: (707) 565-5550, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Employment-and-Training/
• Family, Youth and Children’s Division: (707) 565-4300, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services/Family-Youth-and-Children-s-Division/
• Human Services Department: (707) 565-5800, sonomacounty.ca.gov/Human-Services-Department