Human Services

Overview

The 2024-25 spending plan provides around $31 billion from the General Fund for human services programs across 11 state departments, councils, and commissions. This represents a net increase of nearly $1.8 billion, or 6 percent, compared to the revised prior-year spending level, as shown in Figure 1. The net increase includes some budget reductions as well as funding shifts for programs such as the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids. This decreased spending is offset primarily by rate and caseload-driven spending increases for a few programs—most notably developmental services, child care, and In-Home Supportive Services. In addition to caseload growth, a significant portion of the year-over-year net increase for developmental services is due to the expiration of some federal funding that had been offsetting General Fund costs in recent years. Figure 2 shows the major human services policy changes adopted by the Legislature as part of the 2024-25 spending plan. These changes are discussed in more detail in the issue-specific links provided on this page.

Figure 1

Human Services Programs and Departments—Spending Trends

General Fund (Dollars in Millions)

	2023-24	2024-25	Change From 2023-24 to 2024-25
	2023-24	2024-25	Amount	Percent
Department of Social Services
In-Home Supportive Services	$7,991.3	$9,146.3	$1,154.9	14.5%
SSI/SSP	3,547.3	3,643.1	95.7	2.7
Child Care	2,098.8	3,240.3	1,141.5	54.4
County Administration/Automation	1,454.8	1,506.1	51.3	3.5
Child Welfare Services	1,055.6	960.6	-95.1	-9.0
CalWORKs	1,215.0	643.6	-571.4	-47.0
All other funding under DSS (including state support)	3,437.5	1,329.2	-2,108.4	-61.3
Subtotals	($20,800.4)	($20,469.1)	(-$331.3)	(-1.6%)
Other Human Services
Department of Developmental Services	$8,037.5	$10,284.8	$2,247.3	28.0%
Department of Child Support Services	374.0	373.9	-0.1	—
Department of Aging	278.3	161.9	-116.3	-41.8
Department of Rehabilitation	102.0	86.0	-16.0	-15.7
All Other Human Services	8.1	6.0	-2.1	-26.1
Subtotals	($8,799.9)	($10,912.6)	($2,112.7)	(24.0%)
Totals	$29,600.3	$31,381.7	$1,781.4	6.0%
SSI/SSP = Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment; DSS = Department of Social Services; and CalWORKs = California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids. Note. This table has been updated as of 12/06/24.

Figure 2

Major Actions—Human Services Programs

2024‑25 General Fund Effect (In Millions)

Spending Plan Action	Amount
CalWORKs
Reduces employment services intensive case management funding	‑$47
Reduces expanded subsidized employment funding	‑37
Reduces mental health and substance abuse services funding	‑37
Reduces home visiting program funding	‑25
Funds effort to enhance EBT card technology and security	17
IHSS
Reduces funding for IHSS Permanent Back‑Up Provider System	‑$3
Child Welfare
Eliminates funding for Los Angeles County public health nurse early intervention program	‑$8
Eliminates funding for SILP housing supplement^a	‑1
Provides initial automation funding for permanent foster care rates structure	4
Increases CWS‑CARES automation project funding	23
Food Assistance
Delays California Food Assistance Program expansion	‑$31
Funds SUN Bucks outreach, administration, and automation	73
Funds CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot	15
Funds Diaper Bank Program	9
Other DSS
Makes a full withdrawal from the Safety Net Reserve	‑$900
Funds Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for Seniors	5
Child Support
Reduces administrative funding for LCSAs	‑$6
Aging
Eliminates Older Adult Behavioral Health System	‑$20
Eliminates Healthier at Home Nursing Pilot Prgoram	‑12
Developmental Services
Delays full implementation of service provider rate reform by six months	‑$306
Reduces funding for direct service professional workforce programs	‑19
Reduces funding for staff at Porterville Developmental Center	‑20
Delays implementation of preschool inclusion grants	‑10
^a2024‑25 General Fund effect reflects initial automation funding. Budget impact at full implementation would have been $19 million annually.
Note: Child care programs are not included in this table. For more details regarding child care budget actions, please refer to our publication, The 2024‑25 California Spending Plan: Child Care and Preschool. [include link if possible].
CalWORKs = California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids; EBT = Electronic Benefits Transfer; IHSS = In‑Home Supportive Services; SILP = Supervised Independent Living Placement; CWS‑CARES = Child Welfare Services‑California Automated Response and Engagement System; SUN Bucks = Summer EBT program; DSS = Department of Social Services; and LCSAs = local child support agencies.

Department of Developmental Services »