Butte County Social Services

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Mission Statement

Butte County Social Services is dedicated to promoting self-sufficiency and improving the quality of life for all Butte County residents through comprehensive support programs and community resources.

Butte County Social Services provides a range of assistance programs aimed at supporting low-income families and individuals in the community. These services typically include food assistance through CalFresh, financial support via General Assistance and CalWORKs, healthcare programs like Medi-Cal, as well as child welfare services and housing support.

Food Assistance

Did you know?

The North State Food Bank serves an impressive 5,000 residents across six counties every month, making it a crucial resource for food security in the region.

CalFresh Program

Program Overview

CalFresh, formerly known as Food Stamps, helps low-income people buy nutritious food. While these benefits supplement food budgets, most households need to contribute some of their own funds to cover their monthly food needs.

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. citizens
• Legal immigrants who:
  • Have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years
  • Receive disability-related assistance (regardless of entry date)
  • Are children under 18 (regardless of entry date)
• Meet work and income requirements

How to Apply

• 🌐 Online: BenefitsCal website
• 📞 Phone: 877-410-8803
• 📍 In Person:
  • Chico: 765 East Avenue
  • Oroville: 78 Table Mountain Blvd

Expedited Services

3-Day Processing Available

You may qualify for 3-day processing if:

• Your household has less than $150monthlygrossincomeandunder$100 in resources
• Your total monthly income and resources are less than your rent/mortgage and utilities
• You’re a migrant or seasonal farm worker with less than $100 in resources

EBT Card Security

New Security Features

• Freeze/unfreeze cards instantly
• Reset PIN as needed
• Control online and out-of-state purchases
• New chip cards with tap-to-pay coming soon

Farmers’ Markets

Market Match Program

Many markets participate in the Market Match program, which provides additional matching funds for CalFresh customers to purchase fresh produce¹.

gantt
    title Farmers Market Schedule
    dateFormat  YYYY-MM-DD
    axisFormat %b
    
    section Year-Round
    Chico Saturday    :2024-01-01, 2024-12-31
    Chico Wednesday   :2024-01-01, 2024-12-31
    Oroville Mobile   :2024-01-01, 2024-12-31
    Magalia Mobile    :2024-01-01, 2024-12-31
    
    section Seasonal
    Chico Thursday    :2024-04-01, 2024-09-30
    Oroville Hospital :2024-05-01, 2024-09-30
    Paradise Party    :2024-06-01, 2024-08-31

Market	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Chico Downtown						🌞 7:30a-1p
North Valley Plaza			🌞 7:30a-12p
Oroville Mobile						🌞 2p-4p
Magalia Mobile							🌞 10a-12p
Thursday Night*				🌙 6p-9p
Oroville Hospital*			🌞 9a-2p
Paradise Party*

*Seasonal markets (see dates above)

Financial Support

Important Deadlines

• CalWORKs benefits are limited to 60 months total
• General Assistance for employable adults is limited to 3 months in a 12-month period
• Applications must be renewed annually

CalWORKs

Program Mission

“CalWORKs empowers families to achieve self-sufficiency through temporary assistance and comprehensive support services.”

CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) is a time-limited cash assistance program for families with children. It provides:

• Monthly cash benefits for up to 60 months
• Automatic qualification for Medi-Cal
• Potential eligibility for CalFresh
• Support for employable adults to find work or engage in work-related activities²³

General Assistance

This program offers cash assistance to eligible adults who don’t qualify for other cash programs. It provides:

• Three months of assistance for employable adults in a 12-month period
• Longer-term assistance for temporarily disabled adults or those awaiting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) approval⁴

Healthcare Programs

Medi-Cal Coverage

Eligible individuals may receive:

• Primary care services
• Emergency services
• Prescription medications
• Mental health care
• Dental services (Denti-Cal)

Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, provides affordable health care coverage to eligible individuals and families. The county offers various health care options, each with its own eligibility rules and costs².

Housing Support

The Community Action Agency of Butte County operates the Esplanade House, which provides transitional housing and intensive supportive services for unhoused families with children[1].

Energy Assistance

The agency offers energy assistance programs to help lower-income families manage their energy bills, stay warm in winter, and cool in summer[1].

Employment Services

Employable adults receiving CalWORKs are required to work or look for work. The county provides support for Welfare-to-Work activities, which may include job training and placement services²³.

Additional Services

• Family planning services
• Child Health & Disability Prevention (CHDP) program
• Transitional benefits, including 12 months of Medi-Cal coverage and 24 months of child care after CalWORKs benefits end[4]

The Community Action Agency of Butte County emphasizes its mission to provide hope and tangible assistance to those struggling with poverty, aiming to help them become more self-sustaining. They actively seek community involvement and partnerships to alleviate poverty in Butte County⁵.

By offering this wide array of services, Butte County Social Services strives to promote self-sufficiency, improve the quality of life for residents, and address the root causes of poverty in the community.

Crisis Services

New Location

Crisis Services: 560 Cohasset Rd. Suite 100, Chico, CA 95926

Mobile Crisis Response Team

The county provides 24/7/365 field-based crisis response services, including:

• Crisis screenings via phone
• Field-based response teams
• Coordination with law enforcement when needed
• Walk-in services during business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm)

Crisis Support Programs

Available Programs

• Crisis Triage Connect
• Homeless Emergency Action Response Team (HEART)
• Hospital Alternative Program (Ages 0-17)
• Psychiatric Health Facility (16-bed acute care)

Additional Resources

Online Support

• Crisis Text Line: Text ‘LISTEN’ to 741741
• North Valley Talk Line: (855) 582-5554 (4:30-9:30pm daily)
• Chat online: suicidepreventionlifeline.org

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Language Access

Crisis services information is available in:

• English
• Spanish
• Hmong

🎉 Getting Started with Butte County Social Services! 🌟

• 📝 Review eligibility requirements for CalFresh, CalWORKs, and General Assistance—your first step to support!
• 📄 Gather your power documents! (ID, proof of income, residency) because you’re ready to take charge.
• 🍽️ Apply for food assistance through the CalFresh program online or by phone—let’s fill those plates with nutritious goodies!
• 💊 Explore healthcare options available via Medi-Cal and navigate the application process; health is wealth!
• 🏠 Investigate housing support services offered by the Community Action Agency—find that cozy home sweet home!

Let the journey toward self-sufficiency begin! 🚀✨

Check ✅ these items off your list:

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• Review eligibility requirements for CalFresh, CalWORKs, and General Assistance.
• Gather necessary documentation (ID, proof of income, residency).
• Apply for food assistance through the CalFresh program online or by phone.
• Explore healthcare options available via Medi-Cal and navigate application process.
• Investigate housing support services offered by the Community Action Agency.
• Learn about crisis services and mental health support resources in the area.
• Contact local employment services to explore job training and placement opportunities.
• Check energy assistance programs to manage household utility costs.
• Sign up for information on farmers’ markets participating in Market Match for fresh produce purchase.
• Engage with community partners or volunteer opportunities to stay informed and involved.

🌟 You’ve taken the important steps toward a brighter future! Remember, Butte County Social Services is here to support you on your journey to self-sufficiency. Together, we can build a stronger community where everyone thrives. Keep pushing forward—you’ve got this! 💪✨

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References

Footnotes

1. Butte County Farmers Markets ↩

2. Butte County Benefits Information ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. CalWORKs Details ↩ ↩²

4. General Assistance Program ↩

5. Community Action Agency of Butte County ↩