The Service Station

In this episode of #TheServiceStation , we visit Harmony Haven Children & Youth Center, a 72-hour temporary shelter on 121 acres in Riverside County. The center provides calm, supportive, round-the-clock care for foster youth recovering from trauma in a rural environment.   Hear from Harmony Haven’s executive director about the programs and services offered and learn how you can make a differe...

Court-Appointed Special Adovcates (CASA) help foster youth navigate the court system and other aspects of life. They are volunteers who mentor youth and in this episode of The Service Station you'll meet a CASA volunteer who shares her inspiring story. You'll also here from the President of Voices for Children, the non-profit organization that leads the CASA program in Riverside and San...

Every child deserves to feel proud of their crown! In the latest episode of the The Service Station podcast, two guests spotlight a progam called Healthy Crownz. They share how Riverside County is empowering foster youth, their caregivers, and social workers through culturally sensitive hair care, mentorship, and support.  You can watch and listen to episodes of The Service Station on this YouTube...

Social Worker Angie Cruz is with Riverside County Department of Public Social Services. As a guest on the department's podcast, The Service Station, Cruz dives into her career journey and explains how a life-changing experience from her childhood factored into choosing social work as her profession. Want to watch/listen to other podcasts from The Service Station? Find us on all major podcast...

The Valley-wide Employment Expo happens every year. It's the Coachella Valley's biggest job fair with over 100 employers offering available jobs in many industries. The 2024 event is Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Fantasy Springs Casino Special Event Center in Indio. It's free to attend. Learn more at DesertJobExpo.com. This episode features two guests discussing the opportunities...

Crystal Shackleford leads the Riverside County Child Assessment Team or RCCAT and Jennifer Kopfler is a Deputy Director in the Children's Services Division at Riverside County DPSS. Both are passionate about efforts to prevent child abuse and are discussing services available at the facility which serves victims & families as well as ways the public can take action to protect at-risk kids...

21-year-old Marcy Palomar is forging a path to a brighter future, thanks to the dynamic partnership between RivCoDPSS and RCOE’s School of Career Education. Listen as Marcy shares her story and her hope for the future. Also, experts from DPSS (Ken Sandefur) and RCOE (Trisha Jenkins) take a deep dive into how this hands-on program works and how it can help others find fresh careers and a new beginn...

On the latest episode of the department's podcast, The Service Station, Moreno Valley mother Rosa Cisneros shares how DPSS' Linkages program helped her find a path to economic independence and close her Child Protective Services case after she suffered domestic -- a crime her children witnessed.   In the podcast, one of Rosa’s case workers, Employment Services Counselor Lisa Duran,  Lisa...

Millions of dollars in food and cash benefits are stolen from Californians, including in Riverside County, every month.  Listen as the Chief from the Department of Public Social Services and his welfare fraud investigators describe how customers can protect themselves from a crime known as “skimming” and how Riverside County DPSS is taking an aggressive, proactive approach to reduce this crime and...

Cada mes, ladrones roban millones de dólares de los californianos más necesitados. Escuche cómo un agente del Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos del Condado de Riverside describe cómo la gente puede protegerse del delito conocido como "skimming" y cómo se adopta un enfoque proactivo para reducir este crimen y prevenir de que siga ocurriendo en la comunidad.  Don't forget to...

In this episode, social workers from a specialized crisis team in Adult Services share how they’re helping seniors and adults with disabilities get off the streets and into affordable housing. Vulnerable adults are also accessing services that can improve their quality of life thanks to Crisis Response and Intervention Services (CRIS).    Listen as Clarissa, a 28-year-old, shares the challenges sh...

As of May 2022, Californians 50 and older can apply for Medi-Cal, regardless of immigration status. In this episode, experts offer insight on this historic expansion, what it means for immigrant communities, and how more Californians are access preventative services and health care through Medi-Cal. Don't forget to follow us on social media! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouT...

A partir de mayo de 2022, los adultos mayores de 50 años que viven en California pueden solicitar para Medi-Cal, sin importar su estado migratorio. En este episodio, hablaremos acerca de esta expansión histórica y como el Departamento de Servicios Sociales del Condado de Riverside se unió al Centro Legal TODEC para lanzar una campaña para informar a la comunidad sobre este cambio. Van a oír lo dic...

Ana Hernández, técnica de elegibilidad del Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos (DPSS) del condado de Riverside, destaca cómo CalFresh y Welfare-to-Work estabilizaron su vida y luego la llevaron a una carrera en DPSS. Ahora, comparte con los residentes de Blythe y del condado de Riverside los beneficios de estos programas, con la esperanza de que ayuden a otros.   Este episodio también pres...

Ana Hernandez, an Eligibility Technician with Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS),  highlights how CalFresh and Welfare-to-Work stabilized her life, then led to a career at DPSS. Now, she’s sharing with Blythe and Riverside County residents the benefits of these programs, hoping it’ll help others.   This episode also features a special report on the Restaurant Meals Progra...

More people, including youth and young adults, are talking about mental health. But where do you find the services available in Riverside County, and what are ways our communities can reduce stigma for those who need mental health services? In this episode, longtime educator and recent Behavioral Health Commissioner José Campos provides the support available to young adults in need. It also discus...

Más personas, incluidos jóvenes y adultos jóvenes, hablan de salud mental. Pero, ¿dónde encuentra los servicios disponibles en el condado de Riverside y cuáles son las formas en que nuestras comunidades pueden reducir el estigma para quienes necesitan servicios de salud mental? En este episodio, el educador de larga data y reciente Comisión de Salud del Comportamiento, José Campos, brinda el apoyo...

On any given day, there are more than 3,000 children and teens in need of safe and loving homes in Riverside County. Faith in Motion contracts with the county’s Department of Public Social Services and works with more than 200 faith-based communities to guide and support families interested in fostering and adoption. On this episode, Faith in Motion Manager Irene Capen discusses how the partnershi...

En un día cualquiera, hay más de 3000 niños y adolescentes que necesitan un hogar seguro y amoroso en el condado de Riverside. Faith in Motion tiene contratos con el Departamento de Servicios Sociales Públicos del condado y trabaja con más de 200 comunidades religiosas para guiar y apoyar a las familias interesadas en la crianza temporal y la adopción. En este episodio, hablamos con  Noemi Amezcua...

In this episode of “The Service Station,” two experts from Barbara Sinatra Children's Center explain the link between child abuse and human trafficking in eastern Riverside County and how traffickers ensnare and deceive their victims. Guests provide prevention tips and services available to children, youth and families in the Coachella Valley. They also discuss the close collaboration between...

En este episodio de “La Estación de Servicio”, una terapeuta bilingüe del Centro de Niños de Bárbara Sinatra explica el vínculo entre el abuso infantil y la trata humana en el este del Condado de Riverside y cómo los traficantes atrapan y engañan a sus víctimas. La invitada al podcast da consejos y habla de los servicios disponibles para niños, jóvenes y familias en el Valle de Coachella. También...

Stephanie Bryant, a maternal health leader with Riverside County Department of Public Health, discusses the impact of systemic racism on Black newborns and mothers. Bryant also chats with theServiceStation about ways county partners and professionals are working together to improve health outcomes, including through the county's Black Infant Health Program. Don't forget to follow us on s...

Dos trabajadores que atienden a los niños y adultos más vulnerables del Condado de Riverside comparten su pasión por el trabajo social y la recompensa de ayudar a los demás en este episodio de “ la Estación de Servicio ”.  Octavio Ramírez López y María Olvera se encuentran entre más de 1.300 trabajadores sociales del Condado de Riverside, una de las regiones más grandes y diversas del país.  Ambos...

Two social workers who serve Riverside County’s most vulnerable children and adults are sharing their passion for service and the rewards helping people heal in this episode of  theServiceStation.  Octavio Ramirez Lopez and Maria Olvera are among more than 1,300 social workers serving in Riverside County, one of the nation’s biggest and most diverse regions.  Olvera investigates cases of child abu...

Monique Guerra struggled with homelessness from the time she was just 5 years old until college. Now, at age 23, Guerra is sharing her personal experiences on theServiceStation podcast, to raise awareness and inspire change in Riverside County. She's encouraging volunteers to sign up for the 2022 homeless Point-In-Time Count on Feb. 23 and specifically the Youth Count, which is scheduled from...