Fresno County works to centralize its Social Services under one roof

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Each year 400,000 people visit 40 different Fresno County Department of Social Services Offices. They need assistance on everything from job training to child protective services.

Fresno County Public Information Officer, Jordan Scott said, "Really trying to bring all of our social services in the county under one roof. It's going to be a lengthy transition process."

Five buildings on the old Pelco campus will be used to consolidate social services. Work has started to begin moving administrative and call center employees to this building within a year.

Social Services Director, Delfino Neira said,"We plan to have 2,100 - 2,200 employees here on this site. This building will house about 700 we anticipate."

Before that happens a second floor needs to be built on the old manufacturing area.

Department of Social Services Director Delfino Neira says the 2 1/2 year-long project will allow people to take care of business without having to go to different offices.

"We have right now 12 lobbies and most of those are for our assistance clients. We hope to centralize that to one lobby," Delfino said.

When the buildings are complete, the old social services buildings will be used by other agencies. The department will make use of over 150,000 square feet of office space in that building alone.

Neira says the facilities will be more efficient and secure.

"We wanted to improve the security for our clients and for our employees to ensure their confidentiality."

County supervisors approved the move three weeks ago. Neira says the department will continue to maintain facilities in West and East Fresno.