July 16, 2024 • 9 mins
Aired July 14, 2024:
- CalFresh is a nutritional assistance program that subsidizes the cost of groceries.
- CalFresh is a program that works to remove the financial strain on people, to help assist their participants with nurturing their bodies and, in turn, empowering their lives.
- This campaign is striving to reduce the stigma that comes with asking for help through their programs.
- They want to show that they offer assistance without judgement or prejudice, and that there’s strength in asking for help.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Guys, welcome back to iHeart SoCalmany was EJ and on the phone with
me, I have a doctor JackieContreras. Doctor Contreras, thank you so
much for joining us. Thank youfor having me, of course, so
let's jump right into it and talkabout can you briefly describe DPSS and the
services you guys offer sure DPSS,or the Department of Public Social Services,
(00:20):
is the largest social services agency inthe nation, with a six billion dollar
budget and fifteen thousand dedicated employees.We assist individuals and families across Los Angeles
County with cashe aid, food subsidies, and health insurance. We also administer
the In Home Supportive Services Program,which is known as ISHSS, to help
people who are blind, aged,or disabled to remain safely in their homes,
(00:44):
and we provide some services to immigrants. Doctor Conturer's I feel like a
lot of people don't necessarily know aboutall of these services that you guys offer.
I think that's true. I thinkthat's true. We make a concerted
effort to get the word out,and we know that there are still a
lot more people that we could reach. Absolutely. I know we constantly talk
about how things are getting expensive,like everything is at an all time high
(01:04):
right now, Can you please tellus how important these services are to people
out there who need them. Yeah. So, I believe it is the
role of government to support people intime of need. We saw this very
vividly during the COVID pandemic, andfor some people the challenges they experience are
more persistent and severe, and soit is our goal to compassionately provide resources
(01:29):
to anyone who needs our help.That has to make you feel warm and
fuzzy inside, especially when people don'tnecessarily know, because I feel like there
are situations where people don't necessarily knowwhere their next meal is coming, and
the fact that you guys can comein and help them out with that,
that has to make you feel goodworking for this program. Yeah. Absolutely,
It's a privilege to be able toserve our community. How many people
(01:49):
benefit from your programs? So weserve approximately four and ten LA County residents,
that's four million people in terms ofour size. Our largest program is
medical, followed by CalFresh cal Works, which is for families and general relief
for single adults. We also serveover two hundred and sixty seven thousand individuals
in our ISHSS program. How canpeople take part in these services? So
(02:15):
people can reach out and they canfind us online at DPSS dot LA County
dot gov and learn more about ourprograms and services as well as our office
locations and we are located all overLos Angeles County. They can also apply
for assistance online through benefits cal dotcom and you can also call our customer
Service center at eight sixty six sixone three three seven seven seven, And
(02:38):
specifically to apply for IHSS, youcan call eight eight eight nine four four
four four seven seven. Can yougive us the website and the number one
more time for people that are justtuning in? Absolutely so. Our website
is DPSS dot Lacounty dot gov andthat's where you can find information on our
programs and our office locations. Youcan also apply for the benefits directly online
(03:02):
through benefits cal dot com. Andthen our customer service center is at eight
sixty six six one three three sevenseven seven and for IHSS it is eight
eight eight nine four four four fourseven seven. We are on the phone
with doctor Jackie Contraras right now fromthe DPSS. Can you do me a
(03:23):
favorite and tell people why they shouldnot be ashamed to sent up for these
services. Absolutely, So I reallywant to encourage anyone in need to reach
out to apply for services. Irecognize that there are long standing stigmas about
receiving public benefits. Public benefits arehere and designed to help people in need,
(03:43):
and they can be long term benefitslike our ISHSS program, or they
can be shorter term benefits to helpsomeone through a difficult time. I personally
have benefited from these resources, andI know I wouldn't be where I am
today if my mother hadn't had thecourage to seek out help. So I
always want to encourage people to reachout. We're here to help. There
is nothing to be ashamed of.I feel like a lot of people are
(04:05):
just going through tough times right now. Like I said earlier in the program,
a lot of people are struggling.There are a lot of things that
are are expensive. Like I wentto the grocery store last night and probably
bought five items and that was fiftythree dollars, like and it was something
basic, it was like chicken,it was hamburger me. It was so
(04:28):
expensive. So there is nothing tobe ashamed of being as still listen,
prices are up right now absolutely absolutely, and we have a specific program to
help in that regard. So wehave our CalFresh program. It's one of
our fastest growing programs and it providesmonthly food benefits based on the size of
your family monthly income and expenses.And CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase
(04:51):
fruits, vegetables, and other healthyfoods. And by the way, I
do want to say thank you forhelping us get the word out about calfrih
for people that want to sign upfor cal Fresh who not necessarily or familiar
with it, where can people goto get more information on those benefits?
All of our benefits are located atthe places that we mentioned, so if
(05:11):
you go, if you start atDPSS dot La County dot gov, that
will help you to navigate to anyof that are access points. So are
there any particular populations or communities thatyou are specifically encouraging to take advantage of
the resources you offer? So again, I really just want to encourage anyone
in need to reach out and accessthese these benefits. We make a concerted
(05:33):
effort to reach out to specific communities. We know that there are some communities
that underutilize our resources. So theAsian American Pacific Islander community, many seniors
don't access our services, the LGBTQplus communities, all of those communities,
plus you know others who just maynot have access to the information, and
(05:57):
so we're constantly trying to reach outto folks and encourage them to plot.
So I wonder if a lot ofpeople are under the misconception that you have
to have kids to benefit from CalFresh. That's quite possible. So our Cowworks
program is specific to families, andso that's where you would expect to have
kids. We have other programs forindividual adults, but CalFresh is available across
(06:17):
the board. So anyone who believesthat they are in need and they need
support in this space, they canreach out and apply for cal Fresh as
well. See, you know what'sinteresting, a lot of people I feel
like don't necessarily know that. Yeah. Absolutely, So anyway that we can
get the message out, we're veryinvested in doing that. So if you're
listening to the program and you arejust in need to make sure you hit
(06:42):
up the website for more information regardingCalFresh. I want to talk about medical
right quick. You know, it'syour largest program and it expanded recently to
all to include all Californians regardless ofimmigration status. Why is that important?
Yeah, we're super excited about thisexpansion. So everyone knows healthcare is critical
to our overall well being, andit is one of the most expensive costs
(07:04):
that any of us could face,especially if you experience a health crisis.
When people aren't ensured, the costcan be significant for the individual and the
system as a whole. So preventativecare is much more affordable than emergent care.
And that of course is true nomatter your immigration status. I'm telling
you, I feel like one medicalbill can essentially break someone. Absolutely what
(07:27):
It's been important for people to signup for medical well and there's an array
of services that they can access,so they can get wellcare, they can
get medication, they can get dentalcare if they have medical in place,
and so again, all of thoseservices from a preventative standpoint, right,
it's much better to get that resourceup front than to wait until you're in
(07:49):
crisis or you need to go toan emergency room. Absolutely, we are
in the foe with doctor Jackie Contrerasfrom DPSS. Where can we go to
learn more about DPSS? Programs andhow to apply. And I really want
to touch on CalFresh again just forpeople that are just tuning in and why
it's so important for you to takeadvantage of these benefits. If you can
(08:11):
just give me the rundown one moretime, please absolutely so. You can
find us online at DPSS dot LaCounty dot gov to learn more about our
programs and services, as well asour office locations which are all over Los
Angeles County. You can apply forassistance online as well through benefits cow dot
com. And you can also callour Customer Service center at eight sixty six
(08:35):
six one three three seven seven sevenand to apply for IHSS specifically, you
can call eight eight eight nine fourfour four four seven seven in CalFresh.
So all of our access points youcan get information about CalFresh and you can
submit your application through any of ouraccess points. Absolutely and there's nothing to
(08:56):
be ashamed of, especially if youare needing the help right now. Listen,
listen, everybody is needing some help. Everything is hella expensive and I
love that California in La County orhelping out, just helping people who are
in need. The Senior is theLGBTQ plus community. The fact that you
guys are out there providing I thinkit's amazing. Thank you so much.
(09:18):
And we know that we can't dothis work unless it's in partnership with our
community, and so we really appreciateyour focus in this area and your support
and getting the word out. DoctorJackie Contreras, thank you so much for
joining us. We really appreciate that. Thank you,
Guys, welcome back to iHeart SoCalmany was EJ and on the phone with
me, I have a doctor JackieContreras. Doctor Contreras, thank you so
much for joining us. Thank youfor having me, of course, so
let's jump right into it and talkabout can you briefly describe DPSS and the
services you guys offer sure DPSS,or the Department of Public Social Services,
(00:20):
is the largest social services agency inthe nation, with a six billion dollar
budget and fifteen thousand dedicated employees.We assist individuals and families across Los Angeles
County with cashe aid, food subsidies, and health insurance. We also administer
the In Home Supportive Services Program,which is known as ISHSS, to help
people who are blind, aged,or disabled to remain safely in their homes,
(00:44):
and we provide some services to immigrants. Doctor Conturer's I feel like a
lot of people don't necessarily know aboutall of these services that you guys offer.
I think that's true. I thinkthat's true. We make a concerted
effort to get the word out,and we know that there are still a
lot more people that we could reach. Absolutely. I know we constantly talk
about how things are getting expensive,like everything is at an all time high
(01:04):
right now, Can you please tellus how important these services are to people
out there who need them. Yeah. So, I believe it is the
role of government to support people intime of need. We saw this very
vividly during the COVID pandemic, andfor some people the challenges they experience are
more persistent and severe, and soit is our goal to compassionately provide resources
(01:29):
to anyone who needs our help.That has to make you feel warm and
fuzzy inside, especially when people don'tnecessarily know, because I feel like there
are situations where people don't necessarily knowwhere their next meal is coming, and
the fact that you guys can comein and help them out with that,
that has to make you feel goodworking for this program. Yeah. Absolutely,
It's a privilege to be able toserve our community. How many people
(01:49):
benefit from your programs? So weserve approximately four and ten LA County residents,
that's four million people in terms ofour size. Our largest program is
medical, followed by CalFresh cal Works, which is for families and general relief
for single adults. We also serveover two hundred and sixty seven thousand individuals
in our ISHSS program. How canpeople take part in these services? So
(02:15):
people can reach out and they canfind us online at DPSS dot LA County
dot gov and learn more about ourprograms and services as well as our office
locations and we are located all overLos Angeles County. They can also apply
for assistance online through benefits cal dotcom and you can also call our customer
Service center at eight sixty six sixone three three seven seven seven, And
(02:38):
specifically to apply for IHSS, youcan call eight eight eight nine four four
four four seven seven. Can yougive us the website and the number one
more time for people that are justtuning in? Absolutely so. Our website
is DPSS dot Lacounty dot gov andthat's where you can find information on our
programs and our office locations. Youcan also apply for the benefits directly online
(03:02):
through benefits cal dot com. Andthen our customer service center is at eight
sixty six six one three three sevenseven seven and for IHSS it is eight
eight eight nine four four four fourseven seven. We are on the phone
with doctor Jackie Contraras right now fromthe DPSS. Can you do me a
(03:23):
favorite and tell people why they shouldnot be ashamed to sent up for these
services. Absolutely, So I reallywant to encourage anyone in need to reach
out to apply for services. Irecognize that there are long standing stigmas about
receiving public benefits. Public benefits arehere and designed to help people in need,
(03:43):
and they can be long term benefitslike our ISHSS program, or they
can be shorter term benefits to helpsomeone through a difficult time. I personally
have benefited from these resources, andI know I wouldn't be where I am
today if my mother hadn't had thecourage to seek out help. So I
always want to encourage people to reachout. We're here to help. There
is nothing to be ashamed of.I feel like a lot of people are
(04:05):
just going through tough times right now. Like I said earlier in the program,
a lot of people are struggling.There are a lot of things that
are are expensive. Like I wentto the grocery store last night and probably
bought five items and that was fiftythree dollars, like and it was something
basic, it was like chicken,it was hamburger me. It was so
(04:28):
expensive. So there is nothing tobe ashamed of being as still listen,
prices are up right now absolutely absolutely, and we have a specific program to
help in that regard. So wehave our CalFresh program. It's one of
our fastest growing programs and it providesmonthly food benefits based on the size of
your family monthly income and expenses.And CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase
(04:51):
fruits, vegetables, and other healthyfoods. And by the way, I
do want to say thank you forhelping us get the word out about calfrih
for people that want to sign upfor cal Fresh who not necessarily or familiar
with it, where can people goto get more information on those benefits?
All of our benefits are located atthe places that we mentioned, so if
(05:11):
you go, if you start atDPSS dot La County dot gov, that
will help you to navigate to anyof that are access points. So are
there any particular populations or communities thatyou are specifically encouraging to take advantage of
the resources you offer? So again, I really just want to encourage anyone
in need to reach out and accessthese these benefits. We make a concerted
(05:33):
effort to reach out to specific communities. We know that there are some communities
that underutilize our resources. So theAsian American Pacific Islander community, many seniors
don't access our services, the LGBTQplus communities, all of those communities,
plus you know others who just maynot have access to the information, and
(05:57):
so we're constantly trying to reach outto folks and encourage them to plot.
So I wonder if a lot ofpeople are under the misconception that you have
to have kids to benefit from CalFresh. That's quite possible. So our Cowworks
program is specific to families, andso that's where you would expect to have
kids. We have other programs forindividual adults, but CalFresh is available across
(06:17):
the board. So anyone who believesthat they are in need and they need
support in this space, they canreach out and apply for cal Fresh as
well. See, you know what'sinteresting, a lot of people I feel
like don't necessarily know that. Yeah. Absolutely, So anyway that we can
get the message out, we're veryinvested in doing that. So if you're
listening to the program and you arejust in need to make sure you hit
(06:42):
up the website for more information regardingCalFresh. I want to talk about medical
right quick. You know, it'syour largest program and it expanded recently to
all to include all Californians regardless ofimmigration status. Why is that important?
Yeah, we're super excited about thisexpansion. So everyone knows healthcare is critical
to our overall well being, andit is one of the most expensive costs
(07:04):
that any of us could face,especially if you experience a health crisis.
When people aren't ensured, the costcan be significant for the individual and the
system as a whole. So preventativecare is much more affordable than emergent care.
And that of course is true nomatter your immigration status. I'm telling
you, I feel like one medicalbill can essentially break someone. Absolutely what
(07:27):
It's been important for people to signup for medical well and there's an array
of services that they can access,so they can get wellcare, they can
get medication, they can get dentalcare if they have medical in place,
and so again, all of thoseservices from a preventative standpoint, right,
it's much better to get that resourceup front than to wait until you're in
(07:49):
crisis or you need to go toan emergency room. Absolutely, we are
in the foe with doctor Jackie Contrerasfrom DPSS. Where can we go to
learn more about DPSS? Programs andhow to apply. And I really want
to touch on CalFresh again just forpeople that are just tuning in and why
it's so important for you to takeadvantage of these benefits. If you can
(08:11):
just give me the rundown one moretime, please absolutely so. You can
find us online at DPSS dot LaCounty dot gov to learn more about our
programs and services, as well asour office locations which are all over Los
Angeles County. You can apply forassistance online as well through benefits cow dot
com. And you can also callour Customer Service center at eight sixty six
(08:35):
six one three three seven seven sevenand to apply for IHSS specifically, you
can call eight eight eight nine fourfour four four seven seven in CalFresh.
So all of our access points youcan get information about CalFresh and you can
submit your application through any of ouraccess points. Absolutely and there's nothing to
(08:56):
be ashamed of, especially if youare needing the help right now. Listen,
listen, everybody is needing some help. Everything is hella expensive and I
love that California in La County orhelping out, just helping people who are
in need. The Senior is theLGBTQ plus community. The fact that you
guys are out there providing I thinkit's amazing. Thank you so much.
(09:18):
And we know that we can't dothis work unless it's in partnership with our
community, and so we really appreciateyour focus in this area and your support
and getting the word out. DoctorJackie Contreras, thank you so much for
joining us. We really appreciate that. Thank you,
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