Guide to the Orange County Social Services Agency Records
Processed by Anna Liza Posas
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Phone: (949) 824-3947
Fax: (949) 824-2472
Email: spcoll@uci.edu
URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Orange County Social Services Agency Records
Collection number: MS-SEA015
Special Collections and Archives
The UCI Libraries
University of California
Irvine, California
Contact Information
- Special Collections and Archives
- The UCI Libraries
- P.O. Box 19557
- University of California
- Irvine, California 92623-9557
- Phone: (949) 824-3947
- Fax: (949) 824-2472
- Email: spcoll@uci.edu
- URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu
- Processed by:
- Anna Liza Posas
- Date Completed:
- 2002
- Encoded by:
- Andre Ambrus
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Orange County Social Services Agency records,
Date (inclusive): 1981-1991
Collection number: MS-SEA015
Creator:
Orange County Social Services Agency
Extent:
7 linear feet
8 boxes
Repository:
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.
Physical location: University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.
Irvine, California 92623-9557
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
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.
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.
Collection Contents
Box 1 : 1-6
Central Intake Unit (CIU).
Scope and Content 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 : 2-3
Planning and implementation materials, 1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Materials consist of agendas, budgets, correspondence, legislation, notes, and research.
Box 1 : 4-5
Policies and procedure, 1985-1986.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Scope and Content 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 : 7-12
Correspondence, meeting minutes, and notes, 1981-1990.
Physical Description:
6 folders.
Scope and Content 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 : 13
Management plan, 1988-1991
Box 1 : 14
Policies and procedures, 1988-1989
Box 1 : 15-21
Internal and non-published reports, 1979-1990.
Physical Description:
7 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes management summaries, statistics and data; and various reports regarding Orange County's refugee community.
Box 1 : 22-26
Published reports.
Physical Description:
5 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes reports published by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and other agencies.
Box 1 : 27
Resolutions of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, circa 1980-1987
Box 1 : 28
Greater Avenues in Independence (GAIN) evaluation report
Box 2 : 1-7 and 8 : 1
Refugee Demonstration Project (RDP)
Box 2 : 2-3
Planning and implementation materials, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 2 : 4
Budget, goals, and objectives, circa 1984-circa 1989
Box 8 : 1
Caseload reports, computer printouts, 1985-1986.
Scope and Content Note
Printouts are calculations and tallies taken from data input into the project's automated information system.
Box 2 : 5
Correspondence and notes, 1985-1987
Box 2 : 6
Evaluation report, circa 1989
Box 2 : 6a
Miscellaneous reports and statistics, 1986-1987
Box 2 : 7-9
Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS)
Box 2 : 7
Budget allocations materials, 1985-1986
Box 2 : 8
Correspondence, 1984-1986
Box 2 : 10
RESS II / GAIN, correspondence and supporting materials, 1990-1991
Box 2 : 11-14 and 7 : 1
Refugee Resettlement Project (RRP)
Box 2 : 11
Correspondence, 1985-1986
Box 7 : 1
Churchill, Dolores, 1986 September 22.
Scope and Content 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 : 12-13
Planning and implementation materials, 1981-1982.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 2 : 15 - 3 : 8, 7 : 2 and 8 : 2-4
Targeted Assisted Program (TAP).
Scope and Content 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 : 15-24 and 8 : 2-4
Automation and data systems development materials
Box 2 : 15 and 8 : 2-4
Automated system instructions
Box 8 : 2-4
Master menu and function descriptions, 1985.
Physical Description:
3 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes information on transfer files and test runs.
Box 2 : 15
Key commands and operation instructions, 1986
Box 2 : 16-21
Correspondence and notes, 1983-1986.
Physical Description:
6 folders.
Box 2 : 22-23
Data sub-committee material, 1986-1988.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence, meeting minutes, and notes.
Box 2 : 24
Memorandum of understanding (MOU), 1985
Box 2 : 25-27 and 7 : 2
Planning and implementation materials
Box 2 : 25
Background information and research, 1983
Box 7 : 2
Time expired refugees data, 1983
Box 2 : 26
Committee meeting minutes and notes, 1984-1986
Box 2 : 27
Correspondence, 1984-1986
Box 3 : 1
Correspondence and notes, 1984-1986
Box 3 : 2-3
Contractor guidelines, handbooks, and monitoring procedures, circa 1984-1986.
Physical Description:
2 folders
Box 3 : 4
Miscellaneous materials regarding policies and procedures, 1983-1991
Box 3 : 5-6
Instructions, operational manuals, and supporting documents, 1984-1986.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 3 : 7
Sample report forms, 1983-1988.
Scope and Content Note
Organized alphabetically.
Box 3 : 8
Welfare grant reduction (WGR) reporting procedures and instructions, 1984-1986
Box 3 : 9 - 4 : 19 and 7 : 3
Box 3 : 9-18 and 7 : 3
Contractors materials.
Scope and Content Note
Materials relate to outside organizations and agencies awarded TAP funding for providing social services to the Orange County
refugee community.
Box 3 : 9-10
Contract agreements and contractor literature, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes materials produced by or written about the contracting organizations. Materials are organized alphabetically.
Box 3 : 11
Correspondence, 1984-1985
Box 3 : 12-18
Proposals and grant applications, 1983.
Physical Description:
7 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Organized alphabetically.
Box 7 : 3
Vietnamese Youth Center proposal, appendix 7, 1984
Box 3 : 19-22
Planning and implementation materials
Box 3 : 19-20
Agenda, legislation, and supporting documents, 1983-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes agenda item transmittals (AIT's), plan amendments and drafts, resolutions, sanctions, standard agreements, and supporting
correspondence and notes.
Box 3 : 21
Bidder information and requests for proposal (RFP), 1983-1984.
Scope and Content Note
Materials relate to the bidding process and proposal solicitation from OCSSA to prospective contractors.
Box 3 : 22
Budget, goals, and objectives, 1984-1985
Box 3 : 23-24
Contractors monitoring and status reports, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 4 : 1-7
County reports and supporting documents
Box 4 : 1-5
Final evaluation report and supporting documents, 1984-1986.
Physical Description:
5 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Materials include report drafts, editorial comments, data, and planning notes.
Box 4 : 6-7
Quarterly reports and correspondence, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 4 : 8
Projects summary report, 1984.
Scope and Content Note
Include evaluation reports and reviews on TAP I-funded activities.
Box 4 : 9-11
State reports and supporting documents, 1984-1986.
Physical Description:
3 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Statewide TAP evaluation reports administered by the CDSS.
Box 4 : 12-19
Targeted Assistance Programs Reporting Systems (TARS).
Scope and Content 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 : 12-13
Caseload movement reports and assessments, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 4 : 14
Intake assessment and referral reports, 1984-1986
Box 4 : 15
Job retention and termination draft evaluation, 1985
Box 4 : 16
Refugee demographic reports, 1984-1985
Box 4 : 17
Refugee program reports statistics, 1985
Box 4 : 18-19
WGR reports and evaluation results, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 4 : 20 - 5 : 32, 7 : 4-10, and 8 : 5-6
Box 4 : 20-22
Contract agreements and amendments, 1985.
Physical Description:
3 folders.
Box 4 : 23
Correspondence, 1985-1986
Box 4 : 24
List and description of contractors, 1984-1986
Box 4 : 25
Meeting minutes and notes, 1985-1986
Box 4 : 26
Correspondence and notes, circa 1984-1986
Box 4 : 27 - 5 : 22 and 7 : 4-8
Planning and implementation materials
Box 4 : 27-28
Agenda, legislation, and supporting materials, 1984-1986.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 4 : 29-30
Bidder information and RFPs, 1984-1985.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 5 : 1
Budget, goals, and objectives, 1985-1987
Box 5 : 2
Program overviews, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 3-22
User survey questionnaire development, response, and results, 1984.
Physical Description:
20 folders.
Scope and Content 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 : 4-8
Survey responses from Cambodian community, 1984.
Physical Description:
5 folders.
Box 5 : 23-32, 7 : 9-10, and 8 : 5-6
Box 5 : 23-24
Contractors monitoring and status reports, 1985-1986.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 5 : 25
County, quarterly reports, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 26
State biannual reports, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 27-32, 7 : 9-10, and 8 : 5-6
TARS reports and supporting documents
Box 5 : 27 and 8 : 6
Caseload movement reports
Box 8 : 6
Computer printouts, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 27
Evaluation results only, 1986
Box 5 : 28
Intake assessment and referral reports, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 29
Refugee demographic reports, 1985-1986
Box 8 : 5
Employment, computer printouts, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 30
Refugee program reports, 1985-1986
Box 7 : 9
Oversize reports, 1986-1987
Box 7 : 10
Referral reports, 1985-1986
Box 5 : 31-32
WGR reports and evaluation results, 1985-1986.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 5 : 33
Contractors meeting minutes and notes, 1986-1988
Box 5 : 34-35
Correspondence, 1986-1987.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 5 : 36-40
Planning and implementation materials
Box 5 : 36-37
Agenda, legislation, and supporting documents, 1984-1987.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 5 : 38
Bidder information and RFPs, 1986
Box 5 : 39
Budget, goals, and objectives, circa 1985-1987
Box 8 : 7
Caseload reports, computer printouts, 1986
Box 5 : 41
Refugee demographic reports, 1987
Box 6 : 1
TAP III, federal notice, 1985
Box 6 : 2
Contractors, list and description, 1986-1987
Box 6 : 4-7
Planning and implementation
Box 6 : 4
Agenda, legislation, and supporting documents, 1986-1987
Box 6 : 5
Budget, goals, and objectives, 1986-1987
Box 6 : 6
Community meeting notes, circa 1986
Box 6 : 8
County quarterly reports, 1986-1987
Box 6 : 9-10 and 7 : 11
TARS reports and supporting documents
Box 7 : 11
Refugee demographic reports, 1987
Box 6 : 9
Refugee employment services statistics, 1987
Box 6 : 11
Contractors meeting minutes and notes, 1988
Box 6 : 12-15
Planning and implementation materials
Box 6 : 12
Agenda, legislation, and supporting materials, 1987-1988
Box 6 : 13
Budget, goals, and objectives, 1988-1990
Box 6 : 14
Community meeting memos, circa 1988
Box 6 : 15
Refugee Employment Social Services (RESS) integration materials, 1988
Box 6 : 16
Reports, TARS, WGR termination and sanctions report, 1988
Box 6 : 17-18
Contract agreements and amendments, 1990-1991.
Physical Description:
2 folders.
Box 6 : 20
Meeting minutes and notes, 1989
Box 6 : 21-34
Planning and implementation materials
Box 6 : 21-25
Agenda, legislation, and supporting materials, 1988-1991.
Physical Description:
5 folders.
Box 6 : 26
Bidder information and RFPs, 1989
Box 6 : 27-29
Budget, goals and objectives, 1988-1991.
Physical Description:
3 folders.
Scope and Content Note
Includes RES II allocations.
Box 6 : 30
Community forum meeting minutes and notes, 1989-1990
Box 6 : 32
Mutual Assistance Association (MAA) integration materials, 1989-1991
Box 6 : 34
Program overview of GAIN, 1991
Box 6 : 37
Client pool report materials, 1986-1989
Box 6 : 38
Contractor status reports, 1990
