Human Services

The Department of Human Services (DHS) was created in 2010.  The Department includes all of the foster family and community based services of the Community Attention Programs and a variety of human services program and initiatives. The Director serves as a human services policy advisor to the City Manager and works to implement the social policy initiatives of the City Council.

Investments & Values

The DHS ensures the investments made by City Council in human service organizations meet their vision, values, and expected outcomes through the Vibrant Community Fund (VCF) process. DHS staff provide direct oversight and management of the Youth Council, and serves on a number of coalitions, networks and advisory boards. Additional work focuses on advancing the work of a variety of local and State human service planning organizations working in the following areas, including but not limited to: juvenile justice and detention, adult offender re-entry, public housing, human rights, homelessness, mental health, community health, workforce development, aging, and others as determined by the City Manager. 

Vision  

To be a place where everyone thrives...by serving as the community’s premier provider in meeting the therapeutic needs of youth, families and residents by supporting the community’s efforts to improve equity, and address poverty and its impacts. 

Mission

We provide services and programs that improve and support the resilience, health and well-being of youth, families, residents and community organizations.

Organizational Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-racist Mission and Action Plan

The Department of Human Services works collaboratively towards building just, equitable, antiracist communities.  We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, health care, housing, the economy, and child welfare) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and thrive. We believe in the dignity, resilience, and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes equitable access and opportunity. Systemic and institutional inequities, especially in matters of race, remain significant barriers for people and communities working to reach their full potential. We choose to challenge and dismantle systems that perpetuate inequities which includes addressing and redressing the historic and current work of the Department of Human Services. 

We will do this by giving attention and action to five overarching categories as we continue to build a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist organization: Hiring, On-boarding, Education and Training, Employee Experience and Consumer Experience.  This workplan includes assessing our own performance and organizational culture, disaggregating the data we collect, and developing partnerships that focus on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.  We will also examine and acknowledge the department’s historical and current impact on this community, and set specific performance expectations for staff and this department.