Heartbeat of Human Services

This Foster Care Awareness Month, we're honored to spotlight CASA of Kern County with Director Ashley Vorhees and Outreach & Marketing Coordinator Adriana Campos.  💙 Tune in to be inspired by their mission, the impact of supporting foster youth, and the hope they're building for brighter futures. Because it only takes one person to make a difference.     Learn more at: 📞 661-631-2272 📧  info@ke...

During April's Child Abuse Prevention Month, join us for an important discussion featuring Ilene Para, Director of Client Services at The Open Door Network; Jordan Green, FRC Supervisor at Greenfield Family Resource Center; and a special guest with lived experience, Jeanette.    Together, we will explore the history of these organizations and highlight the essential services they provide to suppor...

Welcome to our special podcast in honor of June Family Reunification Month. Today, we are joined by two inspiring guests from Clinica Sierra Vista — Kandi Smith, Supervisor for East Kern Adolescent & Family Services, and Shannon Stephens, Parent Educator for the East Kern Parents as Teachers Program. Kandi and Shannon will bravely share their personal journeys of overcoming addiction and the power...

Meet high school student and Eagle Scout Marshall Sanchez, who has pitched an idea to transform KCDHS's Children's Visitation Center into a fun place where children can bond with their families. The Children's Visitation Center (CVC) is designed to help children maintain connections with their families and cultural roots. Visitation refers to the scheduled times that parents spend with their child...

In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, we want to highlight the vital role of Family Resource Centers (FRC). These centers serve as a lifeline for families, providing essential resources, programs, and services that uplift and empower. From parenting classes to mental health support, FRCs help families navigate challenges and build a foundation for lasting success and well-being. Joi...

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the Sleep Research Society, it is recommended that young adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep 😴. However, due to the effects of the pandemic, excessive screen time from electronics and other factors, students' mental health, academic performance, school attendance, and physical well-being have been adversely affec...

By joining forces, the Kern County Department of Human Services and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools have made it possible to bring the empowering and reliable transportation services of HopSkipDrive to the Bakersfield Metro area for youth in foster care. This collaboration ensures that foster youth can seamlessly access transportation to attend their classes, providing them with the supp...

We are back with another interview featuring Sherry Willard of the Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA). Sherry will be answering questions from our staff about terms like "3% at 60" or "1.62% at 65," discussing whether Social Security affects our pension, explaining how members can find out when they're eligible to retire, and much more. Make sure to tune in to the second part of...

Preparing for retirement can be an exciting yet daunting milestone for county employees or anyone. Today, Jana will interview Sherry Willard, the Deputy Chief Member Services Officer at the Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA). Sherry will explain retirement plan terminology, frequently asked questions, additional assistance available for extra-help employees, and much more. Don't...

We observe July as Purple Ribbon Month. During this time, we want to emphasize important child safety tips, including heat safety, hot car safety, water safety, and CPR. In our latest podcast episode, we feature EMT Edlin Blankenship from Kern County Public Health. She discusses her motivation for working in the medical field, shares her experiences with water-related hazards, offers advice on ass...

June is National Family Reunification Month.  Listen in, as we chat with Superior Court Judge, Susan Gill, from the Juvenile Justice Center talking about some of the things she does to encourage families.  Family Reunification is the term used when parents are able to successfully complete their court-ordered case plans allowing them to reunite with their children.     To learn more about family r...

Family Reunification is an incredibly significant and emotional milestone for parents who have been through tough situations. It marks the successful reunification of families, often after periods of separation or hardship. Today, we are honored to welcome Adriana Tello, a dedicated social worker at KCDHS, who will share how she supports families during challenging times and how social work helps...

As we conclude Foster Care Awareness Month, we are honored to have Rosalind Duffey-Wallace, a foster parent who has been nominated for recognition by Deputy Probation Officer Patricia Cantu for her compassion and unconditional love for foster children with complex behaviors. During the discussion, they highlighted the TFCO (Treatment Foster Care Oregon) program, which provides therapeutic support...

Join us in today's podcast as we raise awareness during Child Abuse Awareness Month. Our podcast features three special guests - Maribel Galvan, Prevention Services Facilitator for Kern County Network for Children, Kandi Smith, Adolescents Family Services Program Supervisor for Clinica Sierra Vista, and Carl Coble, Program Manager and Supervisor for "Parents As Teachers" Program with Child Guidanc...

As we celebrate Social Worker Appreciation Month, we are pleased to have Christine Garza, a social worker supervisor at KCDHS, as our special guest. She is also one of the winners of the 2023 Kern Goldies award for Workforce Excellence. Throughout the session, Christine will share insights about her career journey, the various units within the department, and some tips for de-stressing. Listen in...

In the light of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, today we interview KCDHS Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Unit's Dr. Angela Look as she talks about the experiences of individuals impacted by human trafficking, having honest conversations with kids regarding online safety, the passing of Senate Bill 14, and much more. For upcoming events and information please visit https://www....

The Holiday Cottage continued to bring Christmas cheer to children in foster care. We would like to thank our community and partners for their ongoing support. In today's episode, our Outreach and Communications team look back on the creation of 2023 Holiday Cottage and share heart-felt stories about the gift-givers and why they gave.  

As we enter National Adoption Month, join Jana as she interviews Nick and Rachel McLean as they share their adoption journey and how KCDHS and their faith helped guide them to find a baby girl who they cherish.

In today's podcast, join Jana as she interviews Tim Stevens, Program Director of Jamison Children's Center. Learn more about the purpose of the center, caring for children through a trauma-informed lens, and how staff and the community help to create a safe space to help children have hope for a brighter future.   To view the Jamison Center's wish list please visit https://kcdhs.org/jamisoncenter...

Join us as Paola interviews Steven Franklin, Assistant Program Director at DHS and a Blue Zones Team member, as he discusses the purpose and future goals of the Blue Zones Project for our staff's well-being and career goals.   To learn more, please visit https://bakersfield.bluezonesproject.com/

DHS is teaming up with the Blue Zones (BZ) Project.  Join Paola as she interviews Linda Johnson-LeBlanc, Blue Zones Project Bakersfield Lead, as they discuss the benefits of BZ and how it contributes to improving staff well-being. To learn more, please visit  https://bakersfield.bluezonesproject.com/

To bring more awareness to Purple Ribbon Month, we're glad to have the opportunity to interview Officer Tomas Martinez from California Highway Patrol to discuss hot car fatality prevention, vigilance in and around vehicles, and more.    

Summer is in full swing and this season DHS wants to promote strong families by sharing some of the exciting family-friendly events happening at Kern County Libraries. They have a Summer Lunch Program and Summer Reading Program running at all 22 locations with extended hours, so there are plenty of opportunities to participate. Their programs and events are designed to be fun and engaging, while a...

We are thrilled to welcome the hosts of the Youth Amplified Podcast to the Heartbeat of Human Services! A voice holds immense power and Gennessa Fisher and Brian Johnson are using their voices to help local youth share stories of overcoming adversity. Now, we get the opportunity to hear their story. Don't forget to follow Youth Voice Amplified on social media under @youthvoiceamplifiedpodcast.

Today's podcast is a must-listen! Join Paola and Alison from our Outreach and Marketing team as they share new updates on CalFresh outreach efforts and the importance of educating our community on the resources that KCDHS provides. It's going to be a great conversation, so don't miss out!