Sonoma Co. Consolidates Economic Assistance Services To 2 Offices

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Sonoma County officials announced that in-person economic assistance will end at one of the county's offices in the fall. The county's Human Services Department Economic Assistance Division will consolidate all in-person client services at its main office in Santa Rosa and the South County Center in Petaluma over the next few months, according to the county. The third office, at 520 Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa, will close its in-person Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and General Assistance client services on Sept. 23.

"Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, Economic Assistance offices nationwide are seeing thousands more newly eligible healthcare clients," Economic Assistance Division Director Felisa Pinson said in a news release.

"Focusing our in-person services in two offices allows us to increase staff coverage of call center phone lines and reduce clients' wait times. Another benefit to clients is that they'll have the opportunity to talk with our social workers at the other offices and get additional support," Pinson said.

The number of Sonoma County residents receiving Medi-Cal has increased to 108,000 from 55,000 in 2011, according to the county.

The county will reduce the hours of the Mendocino Avenue office each month until it closes in September.

—Bay City News Service