Guide to the Orange County Social Services Agency Records
MS.SEA.015
Processed by Anna Liza Posas, 2003.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
(cc) 2003
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: Orange County Social Services Agency records,
Creator:
Orange County Social Services Agency
Identifier/Call Number: MS.SEA.015
Physical Description:
7 Linear Feet
(8 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1981-1991
Physical Location: University of California, Irvine.
Library. Special Collections and Archives. Irvine, California 92623-9557
Abstract: This collection of records of the
Orange County Social Services Agency (OCSSA) includes documents related to the
administration of government refugee assistance programs. The materials consist of
administrative papers, correspondence, data and statistics, reports, legislative documents,
memoranda, notes, proclamations and resolutions, and program plans, and document refugee
assistance activities at the county and state level. Among the programs and agencies
included as topics in this collection are: OCSSA Central Intake Unit, Greater Avenues for
Independence (welfare program), Mutual Assistance Association, Refugee Employment Assistance
Program, Refugee Demonstration Project, Refugee Employment Social Services, Refugee
Resettlement Project, and Targeted Assistance Program.
Language of Material:
English .
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by
the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish,
please contact the Southeast Asian Archive Librarian.
Preferred Citation
Orange County Social Services Agency records. MS-SEA015. Southeast Asian Archive, The UC
Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information
about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder
descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Hao Duong, former Orange County Refugee Services Coordinator, 1994.
Processing Information
Processed by Anna Liza Posas, 2002.
Organizational History
The Orange County Social Services Agency (OCSSA) has been providing refugee services since
1975. However, the bulk of the materials in this collection relate to those programs
impacted by the United States Refugee Act of 1980. The Act increased the country's refugee
quota from 17,400 to 50,000, established Congressional control over the entire process of
admitting refugees, and appointed an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). ORR administered a full range of federally
funded programs that assisted in the resettlement process at the state and county levels.
OCSSA, under the direction of Deputy Director Dolores Churchill, became a County Refugee
Coordinator (CRC). OCSSA literature explains that "CRCs are responsible for implementing
strategies, funding and operating procedures for refugee services and programs. They provide
advocacy with elective officials regarding refugee issues. The CRCs have knowledge and
experience in naturalization, immigration and refugee program laws, policies and
procedures."
Orange County, as well as California as a whole, experienced the greatest impact of refugee
admittance from the 1980 Act and the Vietnam War. During this time, refugees were primarily
from South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. According to a 1981 report prepared by the National
Association of Counties Research (NACoR), California's refugee population increased by
83,000 and those refugees on cash assistance increased by 55,000 in one year. In 1981 alone,
Orange County saw an increase of 16,296 refugees over its 1978 figure, and 32.1% of OCSSA
recipients were refugees. Compared to the rest of the nation, California had the highest
refugee population and the highest proportion on cash assistance. Orange County experienced
the nation's second highest county increase (Los Angeles County was ranked first). A report
prepared by the OCSSA Financial Assistance Division and Office of Program Information
indicated there was a 238.9% increase in the number of refugees receiving cash assistance
from January 1979 to September 1981.
As of April 1, 1981, federal Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) -- which allows 100 percent
reimbursement to government agencies, voluntary agencies (Volag), and community based
organizations (CBO) involved in the refugee effort-- was limited to refugees who have been
in the US for less than 36 months. "Time-expired" refugees who were in the US longer than 36
months became eligible for state and locally funded programs. The expected costs from
time-expired refugee cases added to the existing high concentration of refugees in the area
and the fear of welfare dependency prompted OCSSA to concentrate on self-sufficiency
programs through vocational and job training.
OCSSA developed the Refugee Plan for Resettlement, or Refugee Resettlement Plan (RRP),
which included the Refugee Demonstration Project (RDP). The purpose of RDP was to remove
refugees from traditional welfare programs, ensure accessibility for all refugees to
employment programs specifically designed for refugees, and reduce long-term government
costs.
Federal refugee extension acts in the mid-eighties allowed the continuation of RCA funds.
RCA, General Relief (GR), and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) funds enabled
OCSAA to continue to develop services for refugees. The longest running refugee plan was the
Targeted Assisted Plan (TA or TAP). TAP provided vocational training, job placement, and
health services from 1984-1990. Other OCSSA refugee services included the utilization or
implementation of the Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) program, Mutual Assistance
Association (MAA), Refugee Employment Assistance Program (REAP), and Refugee Employment
Social Services (RESS).
As of the year 2002, California has approximately one million refugees who have entered the
state since 1979. The largest incoming refugee groups are from the former Soviet Union,
Southeast Asia, and the former Yugoslavia.
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program replaced the AFDC
and GAIN programs with a single integrated, employment-focused program. The OCSSA's
1999/2000 fiscal report indicated that approximately 24% of OCSSA clients received
assistance from CalWORKs, 5% from RCA, and 1% from GR funds.
The Orange County Social Services Agency continues to operate under the direction of the
Board of Supervisors and the California Departments of Social Services (CDSS) and Health
Services (CDHS). The CDSS supervises the Refugee Program in California.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection of records of the Orange County Social Services Agency (OCSSA) includes
documents related to the administration of government refugee assistance programs. The
materials consist of administrative papers, correspondence, data and statistics, reports,
legislative documents, memoranda, notes, proclamations and resolutions, and program plans,
and document refugee assistance activities at the county and state level. Among the programs
and agencies included as topics in this collection are: OCSSA Central Intake Unit, Greater
Avenues for Independence (welfare program), Mutual Assistance Association, Refugee
Employment Assistance Program, Refugee Demonstration Project, Refugee Employment Social
Services, Refugee Resettlement Project, and Targeted Assistance Program.
Subjects of internal and published report include the characteristics, cultural history,
demographics, progress, rights and/or trends of the Agency's refugee population and
programs, as well as of the Orange County refugee community at large. Although the majority
of the materials in this collection deal with Southeast Asian immigrant and refugee
populations, Cuban, Haitian, Jamaican, and Romanian populations are also mentioned.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by OCSSA program or administrative unit and therein by topic
area. Except where it is noted, records within individual files are arranged
chronologically. Top-level administrative documents and materials unrelated to the
management of major programs or units are found within the file "General institutional
records and documents."
Related Material
MS-SEA021, Robert Walsh Files on Southeast Asian Refugee Resettlement and Education,
1975-2001.
This collection is also supplemented by materials in the SEA Archive's newspaper clippings
file.
box 1, folder 1-6
Central Intake Unit (CIU)
Scope and Contents note
Materials mostly consist of documents regarding the implementation and administrative
functions of CIU, some Targeted Assistance Program (TAP) affiliated items are also
included. CIU items related to TAP are also found with TAP II materials.
box 1, folder 2-3
Planning and implementation materials
1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Materials consist of agendas, budgets, correspondence, legislation, notes, and
research.
box 1, folder 4-5
Policies and procedure
1985-1986.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Materials consist of written policies and procedures as well as instructions,
manuals, handbooks, and regulations and requirements.
box 1
General institutional records and documents
box 1, folder 7-12
Correspondence, meeting minutes, and notes
1981-1990.
Physical Description: 6
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Items include materials relating to budget allocations, Dolores Churchill's (Deputy
Director) meetings, state referrals, notes from the Refugee Forum Committee, and
proposed refugee projects.
box 1, folder 13
Management plan
1988-1991
box 1, folder 14
Policies and procedures
1988-1989
box 1, folder 15-21
Internal and non-published reports
1979-1990.
Physical Description: 7
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes management summaries, statistics and data; and various reports regarding
Orange County's refugee community.
box 1, folder 22-26
Published reports
Physical Description: 5
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes reports published by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and other
agencies.
box 1, folder 27
Resolutions of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
circa 1980-1987
box 1, folder 28
Greater Avenues in Independence (GAIN) evaluation report
box 2, folder 1-7, box 8, folder 1
Refugee Demonstration Project (RDP)
box 2, folder 2-3
Planning and implementation materials
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 2, folder 4
Budget, goals, and objectives
circa 1984-circa 1989
box 2, folder 5-6, box 8, folder 1
box 8, folder 1
Caseload reports, computer printouts
1985-1986.
Scope and Contents note
Printouts are calculations and tallies taken from data input into the project's
automated information system.
box 2, folder 5
Correspondence and notes
1985-1987
box 2, folder 6
Evaluation report
circa 1989
box 2, folder 6a
Miscellaneous reports and statistics
1986-1987
box 2, folder 7-9
Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS)
box 2, folder 7
Budget allocations materials
1985-1986
box 2, folder 10
RESS II / GAIN, correspondence and supporting materials
1990-1991
box 2, folder 11-14, box 7, folder 1
Refugee Resettlement Project (RRP)
box 7, folder 1
Churchill, Dolores
1986 September 22.
Scope and Contents note
Includes excerpts from refugee resettlement reports
Rediscovering governence: nonservice approaches to refugee resettlement
1(981) and
Capturing the change: The input of Indochinese
refugees in Orange County
(1982).
box 2, folder 12-13
Planning and implementation materials
1981-1982.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 2, folder 15-27, box 3, folder 1-8, box 7, folder 2, box 8, folder 2-4
Targeted Assisted Program (TAP)
Scope and Contents note
Materials relate to the creation and development of TAP and the overall administrative
functions of the program throughout its funding stages (e.g., TAP I, TAP II).
box 2, folder 15-24, box 8, folder 2-4
Automation and data systems development materials
box 2, folder 15, box 8, folder 2-4
Automated system instructions
box 8, folder 2-4
Master menu and function descriptions
1985.
Physical Description: 3
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes information on transfer files and test runs.
box 2, folder 15
Key commands and operation instructions
1986
box 2, folder 16-21
Correspondence and notes
1983-1986.
Physical Description: 6
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 2, folder 22-23
Data sub-committee material
1986-1988.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence, meeting minutes, and notes.
box 2, folder 24
Memorandum of understanding (MOU)
1985
box 2, folder 25-27, box 7, folder 2
Planning and implementation materials
box 2, folder 25
Background information and research
1983
box 7, folder 2
Time expired refugees data
1983
box 2, folder 26
Committee meeting minutes and notes
1984-1986
box 3, folder 1
Correspondence and notes
1984-1986
box 3, folder 2-3
Contractor guidelines, handbooks, and monitoring procedures
circa 1984-1986.
Physical Description: 2
folders
General Physical Description note: no content
box 3, folder 4
Miscellaneous materials regarding policies and procedures
1983-1991
box 3, folder 5-6
Instructions, operational manuals, and supporting documents
1984-1986.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 3, folder 7
Sample report forms
1983-1988.
Scope and Contents note
Organized alphabetically.
box 3, folder 8
Welfare grant reduction (WGR) reporting procedures and
instructions
1984-1986
box 3, folder 9-24, box 4, folder 1-19, box 7, folder 3
box 3, folder 9-18, box 7, folder 3
Contractors materials
Scope and Contents note
Materials relate to outside organizations and agencies awarded TAP funding for
providing social services to the Orange County refugee community.
box 3, folder 9-10
Contract agreements and contractor literature
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes materials produced by or written about the contracting organizations.
Materials are organized alphabetically.
box 3, folder 12-18
Proposals and grant applications
1983.
Physical Description: 7
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Organized alphabetically.
box 7, folder 3
Vietnamese Youth Center proposal, appendix 7
1984
box 3, folder 19-22
Planning and implementation materials
box 3, folder 19-20
Agenda, legislation, and supporting documents
1983-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes agenda item transmittals (AIT's), plan amendments and drafts, resolutions,
sanctions, standard agreements, and supporting correspondence and notes.
box 3, folder 21
Bidder information and requests for proposal (RFP)
1983-1984.
Scope and Contents note
Materials relate to the bidding process and proposal solicitation from OCSSA to
prospective contractors.
box 3, folder 22
Budget, goals, and objectives
1984-1985
box 3, folder 23-24, box 4, folder 1-19
box 3, folder 23-24
Contractors monitoring and status reports
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 1-7
County reports and supporting documents
box 4, folder 1-5
Final evaluation report and supporting documents
1984-1986.
Physical Description: 5
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Materials include report drafts, editorial comments, data, and planning
notes.
box 4, folder 6-7
Quarterly reports and correspondence
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 8
Projects summary report
1984.
Scope and Contents note
Include evaluation reports and reviews on TAP I-funded activities.
box 4, folder 9-11
State reports and supporting documents
1984-1986.
Physical Description: 3
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Statewide TAP evaluation reports administered by the CDSS.
box 4, folder 12-19
Targeted Assistance Programs Reporting Systems (TARS)
Scope and Contents note
Comprises required internal reports used to document statistical, demographic, and
grant termination and reduction data to be completed by county welfare departments,
CIU, or contractor.
box 4, folder 12-13
Caseload movement reports and assessments
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 14
Intake assessment and referral reports
1984-1986
box 4, folder 15
Job retention and termination draft evaluation
1985
box 4, folder 16
Refugee demographic reports
1984-1985
box 4, folder 17
Refugee program reports statistics
1985
box 4, folder 18-19
WGR reports and evaluation results
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 20-30, box 5, folder 1-32, box 7, folder 4-10, box 8, folder 5-6
box 4, folder 20-22
Contract agreements and amendments
1985.
Physical Description: 3
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 24
List and description of contractors
1984-1986
box 4, folder 25
Meeting minutes and notes
1985-1986
box 4, folder 26
Correspondence and notes
circa 1984-1986
box 4, folder 27-30, box 5, folder 1-22, box 7, folder 4-8
Planning and implementation materials
box 4, folder 27-28
Agenda, legislation, and supporting materials
1984-1986.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 29-30
Bidder information and RFPs
1984-1985.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5, folder 1
Budget, goals, and objectives
1985-1987
box 5, folder 2
Program overviews
1985-1986
box 5, folder 3-22
User survey questionnaire development, response, and results
1984.
Physical Description: 20
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Surveys, administered by OCSSA to refugee client base for needs assessment
purposes, are multilingual and arranged by contractor, age, ethnic group and/or
employment status.
box 7, folder 4-8
Survey responses from Cambodian community
1984.
Physical Description: 5
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5, folder 23-32, box 7, folder 9-10, box 8, folder 5-6
box 5, folder 23-24
Contractors monitoring and status reports
1985-1986.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5, folder 25
County, quarterly reports
1985-1986
box 5, folder 26
State biannual reports
1985-1986
box 5, folder 27-32, box 7, box 9-10, box 8, folder 5-6
TARS reports and supporting documents
box 5, folder 27, box 8, folder 6
Caseload movement reports
box 8, folder 6
Computer printouts
1985-1986
box 5, folder 27
Evaluation results only
1986
box 5, folder 28
Intake assessment and referral reports
1985-1986
box 5, folder 29
Refugee demographic reports
1985-1986
box 8, folder 5
Employment, computer printouts
1985-1986
box 5, folder 30
Refugee program reports
1985-1986
box 7, folder 9
Oversize reports
1986-1987
box 7, folder 10
Referral reports
1985-1986
box 5, folder 31-32
WGR reports and evaluation results
1985-1986.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5, folder 33-42, box 8, folder 7
box 5, folder 33
Contractors meeting minutes and notes
1986-1988
box 5, folder 34-35
Correspondence
1986-1987.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5, folder 36-40
Planning and implementation materials
box 5, folder 36-37
Agenda, legislation, and supporting documents
1984-1987.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 5, folder 38
Bidder information and RFPs
1986
box 5, folder 39
Budget, goals, and objectives
circa 1985-1987
box 5, folder 41-42, box 8, folder 7
box 8, folder 7
Caseload reports, computer printouts
1986
box 5, folder 41
Refugee demographic reports
1987
box 6, folder 1
TAP III, federal notice
1985
box 6, folder 2-10, box 7, folder 11
box 6, folder 2
Contractors, list and description
1986-1987
box 6, folder 4-7
Planning and implementation
box 6, folder 4
Agenda, legislation, and supporting documents
1986-1987
box 6, folder 5
Budget, goals, and objectives
1986-1987
box 6, folder 6
Community meeting notes
circa 1986
box 6, folder 8-10, box 7, folder 11
box 6, folder 8
County quarterly reports
1986-1987
box 6, folder 9-10, box 7, folder 11
TARS reports and supporting documents
box 7, folder 11
Refugee demographic reports
1987
box 6, folder 9
Refugee employment services statistics
1987
box 6, folder 11
Contractors meeting minutes and notes
1988
box 6, folder 12-15
Planning and implementation materials
box 6, folder 12
Agenda, legislation, and supporting materials
1987-1988
box 6, folder 13
Budget, goals, and objectives
1988-1990
box 6, folder 14
Community meeting memos
circa 1988
box 6, folder 15
Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS) integration materials
1988
box 6, folder 16
Reports, TARS, WGR termination and sanctions report
1988
box 6, folder 17-18
Contract agreements and amendments
1990-1991.
Physical Description: 2
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 20
Meeting minutes and notes
1989
box 6, folder 21-34
Planning and implementation materials
box 6, folder 21-25
Agenda, legislation, and supporting materials
1988-1991.
Physical Description: 5
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 6, folder 26
Bidder information and RFPs
1989
box 6, folder 27-29
Budget, goals and objectives
1988-1991.
Physical Description: 3
folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
Scope and Contents note
Includes RES II allocations.
box 6, folder 30
Community forum meeting minutes and notes
1989-1990
box 6, folder 32
Mutual Assistance Association (MAA) integration materials
1989-1991
box 6, folder 34
Program overview of GAIN
1991
box 6, folder 37
Client pool report materials
1986-1989
box 6, folder 38
Contractor status reports
1990
