County Community Service Center

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

County residents trying to navigate the maze of federal, state, and local government services too often struggle to figure out which way to turn. In Orange County, California, however, many residents need to visit just one location: that of the County Community Service Center (CCSC). Instead of sitting inside an isolated or daunting government building, the CCSC leases commercial real estate in the heart of a local neighborhood and is staffed by those who live nearby and speak the same language as clients. CCSC “Navigators” guide Orange County residents to the best resources available to address a range of issues, from food insecurity to health care, and go beyond just new applications for government benefits. The culturally competent Navigators connect residents to help—right then and there—by collaborating with co-located agencies and community-based organizations. Instead of pushing people to a different office across town, the CCSC can be the first and last set of doors someone who needs help ever needs to open.