By Janie Whiteford, AB Chair and CICA President
April 2022 | 2022 Spring Newsletter
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) can be a complicated program. The more you understand it and become involved, the better it can serve you as a consumer or provider.
You are invited to have your voice heard at any upcoming meeting of the IHSS Advisory Board (AB). Under state law, the AB is mandated to give recommendations for improvements to the IHSS system to any local, state, or federal entity connected to IHSS. The AB also monitors problems that IHSS recipients face and explore solutions. In Santa Clara County (SCC), the AB is made up of nine individuals, five of whom must be past or present users of IHSS or personal care services. ABs strive to be a voice for IHSS consumers.
The SCC AB meets on the third Tuesday of every month from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. via Zoom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of every meeting, there is an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions or share concerns and problems they are experiencing with IHSS. The SCC AB invites you to join and share your experiences during these meetings.
The SCC AB is part of the statewide organization of County Advisory Boards, California IHSS Consumer Alliance (CICA). CICA holds two public meetings per month to discuss issues related to IHSS. The meetings are informative and open to the public. The SCC AB strongly recommends that you join their mailing list for important updates.
For more information about the AB or to join the AB email list, please call Public Authority Services at (408) 350-3206. To contact CICA, visit CICAIHSS.org.