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We are the County Welfare Directors Association of California. We are a nonprofit association representing the human service directors from each of California’s 58 counties.

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CWDA Condemns Trump Administration “Public Charge” Rule Change
This rule change will harm low-income families and individuals that are eligible for assistance.

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Immigration Resources for Counties
This page includes tools and resources for county human services agencies relating to immigration, health care and public benefits under current law. 

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From Our Partners: Child Poverty in California
Without the social safety net, over 35% of children in California would be living in poverty. Read the full PPIC report.

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Hot topic Immigration

CWDA Stands with Governor Newsom and Attorney General Becerra in Opposition to Public Charge Rule
Trump Administration's "public charge" rule change will hurt thousands of California immigrants and their families that are eligible for public benefits.

Hot topic Trauma-Informed Care

Screening Kids from Birth to Age 5 for Trauma
New report by ChildrenNow highlights the importance of screening young children for trauma and includes recommendations for California to implement trauma screenings and utilize trauma-informed care.

Hot topic Immigration

Counties Work to Ease Client Concerns
State and federal laws are still in effect that entitle clients to health care coverage and assistance that they are eligible to receive. Find resources for Counties assisting clients from immigrant communities seeking further guidance here.

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News & Updates

Recent News

Press release Cathy Senderling-McDonald

CWDA Statement on ABAWD SNAP Rule
Trump Administration’s SNAP rule change for “able-bodied adults without dependents” will push those on the verge of losing housing into homelessness and will hurt local economies

Today, the Trump Administration dealt another blow to Americans struggling in poverty by publishing a rule to take away Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance, known as CalFresh in California, from those they consider “able-bodied adults without dependents” that are either unemployed or underemployed. CWDA strongly opposes this cruel and counterproductive rule, which won’t accomplish what it allegedly seeks, which is to motivate people to be gainfully employed.

Press release Cathy Senderling-McDonald

CWDA Statement on National Stay of “Public Charge” Rule

“After standing with Governor Newsom and California Attorney General Becerra against the “public charge” rule and in support of their lawsuit against it, CWDA is pleased that multiple courts have ordered a stay of the rule. CWDA is relieved that the entire rule will not go into effect until the process plays out in our courts and will not be going into effect anywhere next week. The “public charge” rule change would only have harmed immigrant families nationwide should it have gone into effect next week as was planned.

Blog post Cathy Senderling-McDonald

No Easy Answers: Views From the Border

Three weeks ago, I was in El Paso, Texas, riding in a Border Patrol bus along the Rio Grande river. The river ran through a concrete gorge, Mexican national guard troops standing every few hundred feet on the other side. Just past a tall section of border wall, several Border Patrol SUVs converged on a young woman holding a baby in her arms, a toddler clutching her jeans and a young man standing next to her. Another woman, also with a baby and toddler, sat nearby.

Article California HealthlineAna B. Ibarra

How And When Immigrants’ Use Of Government Benefits Might Affect Their Legal Status

A new rule to restrict legal immigration, published by the Trump administration this month, is sowing confusion and anxiety even among immigrants not directly affected by it, as fear spreads faster than facts, immigration and health policy experts say.

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Blog Posts

Blog post Cathy Senderling-McDonald

No Easy Answers: Views From the Border

Three weeks ago, I was in El Paso, Texas, riding in a Border Patrol bus along the Rio Grande river. The river ran through a concrete gorge, Mexican national guard troops standing every few hundred feet on the other side. Just past a tall section of border wall, several Border Patrol SUVs converged on a young woman holding a baby in her arms, a toddler clutching her jeans and a young man standing next to her. Another woman, also with a baby and toddler, sat nearby.

See All