Frequently Asked Questions

The Environmental Health Division investigates consumer complaints regarding food, safety and sanitation at all retail food facilities in Orange County. If you have a consumer complaint regarding an Orange County food facility, please call (714) 433-6000 to report the complaint. Please provide the name and address of the facility you want investigated and explain the conditions you are reporting. Additionally, complaints may be reported online at: http://ochealthinfo.com/eh/complaints
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You may apply for Medi-Cal benefits:

• Online at the Benefits CalWIN web site or www.CoveredCA.com


• In person at one of the Social Services Agency Medi-Cal offices. Click the link to locate an office.


• By phone during business hours Monday-Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm at 1-800-281-9799


• By faxing your Medi-Cal application to 1-714-645-3489

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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department performs civil wedding ceremonies at the Old Orange County Courthouse in 211 West Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92701 Santa Ana, the South County branch office in the Laguna Hills Civic Center and at the North County branch office in Wells Fargo Building/Parking 222 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 110 Anaheim, CA 92805
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Court records are maintained by the Superior Court of Orange County, which is not a County of Orange agency/department.

For copies of court documents, please contact the Orange County Central Justice Center at (657) 622-6878.

You may also e-mail the Superior Court of Orange County at feedback@occourts.org for additional assistance.
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If you buy an existing food facility and do not change the building or the equipment, call (714) 433-6000 to find the inspector for your area. Make an appointment with the inspector for a health-permit inspection. The inspector will have you fill out a health permit application. This information is necessary to issue a health permit to you. The permit is only valid for the person, location and type of food sales listed on the permit application. The permits are non-transferable. If you plan to build or remodel a food facility, it is necessary to submit three copies of detailed plans and specifications to Orange County Environmental Health. These plans must be approved by the Plan Check and Construction Section before you begin work. When you receive approval on the plans, you may begin construction. Contact your plan checker when the project is 75% to 80% completed for a preliminary construction inspection. Upon completion of the construction, contact your plan checker for a final inspection. You need final approval prior to opening for business. For more information, call (714) 433-6026.
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The Medical Safety Net (MSN, formerly the MSI program) is Orange County’s safety-net program for lawful Orange County residents between the ages of 19 and 64 with income from 138% up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who do not have any other health coverage to pay for their urgent medical needs. The MSN Program delivers care through a partnership between the County of Orange and the private medical community. MSN provides for services that are medically necessary to protect life, prevent significant disability, or prevent the serious deterioration of health. The Medical Safety Net Program does not provide comprehensive health coverage, primary, or preventive care. Most individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for the MSN Program qualify for financial assistance to purchase comprehensive, commercial health coverage through Covered California – California’s online health insurance marketplace. Please contact Covered California at 800-300-1506 for more information on available plans and the next open enrollment period. MSN Website.
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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department maintains copies of birth, death and marriage records for those events that occurred in Orange County. The Clerk-Recorder Department has three offices: our main office in downtown Santa Ana (601 N. Ross St. Santa Ana, CA 92701); the South County branch office in Laguna Hills (the Laguna Hills Civic Center, 24031 El Toro Rd., Suite 150); North County branch office (Wells Fargo Building/Parking 222 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 110 Anaheim, CA 92805) To learn more, please click here.
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By telephone: (714) 834-3220

By e-mail: Vicente.Sarmiento@ocgov.com

By mail: Office of Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701

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You can search for property records online and in our office. Our department features a searchable Online Grantor/Grantee Index on our web site at www.ocrecorder.com, which provides a listing of recorded documents in Orange County from 1982 to present. Our department also has a complete index as well as all document images in our offices and available to the public to access.
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• EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. EBT is a benefit issuance system, which is run by Citicorp Electronic Financial Services (CEFS) under a contract with the State.


• The EBT program allows recipients to use a small plastic card that is similar to a credit card or a debit-type (checking account) card.


• "Golden State Advantage Card" is the name of the EBT card that CalWORKs recipients use. Each recipient is provided with his or her own "Golden State Advantage Card" and individualized Personal Identification Number (PIN). "Golden State Advantage Cards" cannot be used without Personal Identification Numbers.


• The "Golden State Advantage Card" or EBT card may be used just like a debit card at ATMs and Point-of-Sale (POS) devices.


• Each recipient has separate accounts for Food Stamps and for cash aid but both accounts may be accessed using one EBT card.


• If a recipient does not use all of his or her benefits in a given month, the balances will "roll over" to the next month.


• The "Golden State Advantage" EBT card may be used outside of Orange County and all Food Stamp cases are included.

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To apply for a business license, please contact the city in which the business principally operates. If the business is within an unincorporated area, please contact the Orange County Sherriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. If you are interested in filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement, which is required for businesses with names that do not include the name of the business owner(s), please contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 or visit their website at http://ocrecorder.com/services/fictitious.

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By telephone: (714) 834-3550

By e-mail: Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com

By mail: Office of Supervisor Katrina Foley, Orange County Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701

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The Orange County Health Care Agency operates a Travel Immunization Clinic for Orange County residents, including Malaria Risk Prevention, at the Public Health Clinic facility in Santa Ana. The address is 1725 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706. For appointment and general information, call the Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448. For the hearing impaired, the TDD number is (800) 801-7100. In addition, many private physicians in Orange County also provide travel immunizations. For names, addresses and phone numbers, please call the Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448.
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The County of Orange Board of Supervisors, with the establishment of an Ordinance on February 5, 2002, created the Orange County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority. The OC IHSS Public Authority's general functions are: 1) to maintain a Registry of IHSS Providers and conduct Provider recruitment, pre-screening, and criminal background checks for IHSS Consumers who need assistance finding a Provider; 2) to offer free training and support to Consumers and Providers; and, 3) to provide information and referrals.

The OC IHSS Public Authority Registry is responsible for all recruitment efforts, which include conducting interviews, pre-screening and criminal background checks of all potential Providers, and maintains an up-to-date database of available Providers. Orange County IHSS Consumers in need of in-home care Providers can request that the OC IHSS Public Authority Registry database be searched to match a Consumer's needs with a Provider's location and home care skills. A list of available Providers who meet the Consumer's needs may then be sent to the Consumer for consideration. It is then the Consumer's responsibility to actually select and hire an appropriate Provider for his or her particular home care needs. However, although Consumers select and hire their own Providers, IHSS Providers are paid directly by the State of California.

Please visit http://www.ocgov.com/publicauth/index.asp to learn more.

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Bail can be posted at the IRC Cashier's Office for Inmates at the IRC, Men's Jail, Women's Jail and James Musick Jail (24 hours) and for the Theo Lacy Jail (only between midnight and 06:30AM).

For inmates at Theo Lacy, Bail can be posted at the Theo Lacy Jail, but only between 06:30AM and midnight. If the inmate is a new booking and has completed the booking process or has appeared in court and has been remanded to the custody of the Sheriff, bail can be posted at the IRC Cashier's Office at 550 N. Flower St., Santa Ana.

If the inmate has been sentenced, bail cannot be posted. Bail/Bond information will be available approximately six hours after booking time.
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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department has four offices: our main office in downtown Santa Ana (12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 106), South County branch office in Laguna Hills (the Laguna Hills Civic Center, 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 150), North County branch office (Historic Downtown Fullerton, 201 N. Harbor Blvd) and the County Community Service Center which issues Marriage License and Passports only (15460 Magnolia St., Westminster). You may request a copy in person or by mail. For more information regarding how to request copies of property records, please visit our website at www.ocrecorder.com.
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For further assistance, please feel free to contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 and speak with a customer service representative, or visit our web site at www.ocrecorder.com.
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The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program is the State implementation of the Federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. It provides time-limited cash assistance to families with children. CalWORKs recipients are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal and may qualify for Food Stamp benefits. Adults in the program are required to participate in a work activity unless they are determined to be exempt.

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Please contact the Orange County Service Center at (800) 281-9799 to report changes to your case.



Examples of changes:

• Change of address


• Change in income


• Add/remove case members to/from the case


• Request discontinuance

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You may file a formal complaint against the County of Orange Department of Social Services by calling or writing:

1. Public Inquiry and Response
   P.O. Box 944243, M.S. 6-23
   Sacramento, CA 94244-2430
   
   Phone 1.800.952.5253 (Voice)
   1.800.952.8349 (TDD)
   Fax 1.916.229.4110



2. Orange County Social Services
   Program Integrity
   P.O. Box 22001
   Santa Ana, CA 92702-2001



3. In person at any Orange County Social Services office, with your worker or with us directly at:
   
   Orange County Social Services
   Program Integrity
   1200 N Main St
   Santa Ana, CA 92702

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Subpoenas for Social Services Agency (SSA) Records

Subpoenas for records of SSA clients must be personally served. The release of records or disclosure of client information will be subject to existing federal, state and County regulations. Each subpoena will be evaluated according to the type of request, the program or service provided to the client, and whether or not the records are confidential, in which case they will not be released.

Generally, the fact that an individual is a past or present client of Social Services Agency (SSA) or has applied for benefits is confidential and will not be disclosed. Further, in most cases SSA is prevented by law from releasing records relating to SSA clients.

Please note that for Children and Family Services (CFS), unless the requestor is a party to a pending dependency case in Orange County Juvenile Court, the requestor must first file a Welfare & Institutions Code 827 petition and obtain authorization to receive copies of CFS records from the Presiding Judge of Orange County Juvenile Court before SSA will release any CFS records.

Subpoenas for records of SSA clients must be personally served at the following locations:

Orange County Social Services Agency:

Attn: Custodian of Records
500 N. State College Blvd.
Orange, CA 92868

Please check in at the Reception Window (Reception is located on the right when you enter the building)

Business Hours: Monday to Friday (Except County Holidays) - 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. (Closed for lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Fees for Subpoenaed Records

Production of Records

The production of records pursuant to a subpoena requires an advance minimum payment of $15.00; however, a reasonable cost may also apply, such as, payment of 15 cents per page for photocopying, 20 cents per page for copying from microfilm, postage, clerical costs for locating and making records available not to exceed $24 per hour, calculated to the nearest quarter hour, or any actual costs charged by any third person for retrieval/return of records.

Court Appearance

Generally, an advance deposit fee of $275 per day is required at the time of service of a civil subpoena for appearance at a trial or hearing. A demand for payment of the full amount will be billed to the requesting party after the testimony is complete.
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Housing & Community Services maintains a listing of numerous apartment communities and properties constructed throughout the county using bonds, tax credits, low interest loans and other incentives that promote affordable housing. Owners of such properties entered into a commitment to keep rents affordable in a specified number of rental units within each property. Some of properties are subsidized and based on tenant income, while others offer rents that are less than the "open market" costs and available to households earning up to 80% of the county median income.

To view the list, please visit http://www.ochousing.org.

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The mission of the County Executive Office is to support and implement Board policy and direction through corporate action and leadership, communication and coordination of strategic and regional planning, and to ensure effective service delivery through efficient management of the County's workforce and resources, and to identify and respond to needs in a proactive style focused on customer service.

The County Executive Office (CEO) is the corporate administrative branch of Orange County government. The CEO is responsible for providing leadership, vision and knowledge of emerging trends and issues impacting Orange County. The CEO, in turn, supports and implements Board of Supervisors' policy and ensures that the County of Orange operates in an efficient, accountable and responsive manner. The County Executive Officer provides direction to all County agency/department heads directly assigned to him and also provides administrative oversight to those department heads who report directly to the Board of Supervisors. In addition, CEO staff also has oversight of a $4.97 billion budget.

The CEO has 106 employees who are divided into six groups: Infrastructure and Environmental Services, Information and Technology, Finance and Budget, Government and Public Services, Community/Media Relations and Administration.

To learn more about the County Executive Office, click here.

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Covered California and Medi-Cal use the same application. This means that when you apply, depending on factors such as your family size, income and citizenship or immigration status, you could qualify for:

• A Covered California health plan with or without financial assistance


• Medi-Cal


• Medi-Cal Access Program for pregnant women

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Click here for restaurant and food facility inspection violation information.
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Adult Behavioral Health Services provides recovery mental health services and episodic treatment services which emphasize individual needs, strengths, choices, and involvement in service planning and implementation. Adults who have a serious and persistent mental disorder and may have a co-occuring substance abuse disorder and impairment in their ability to function in the community or who have a history of recurring substantial functional impairment, hospitalization or symptoms can access services. Services include assessment, evaluation, collateral therapy, individual and group therapy, substance abuse treatment, medication support, rehabilitation, linkage and consultation, placement, plan development, crisis intervention and specialized residential services. AMHS also provides a range of care for county residents who have a serious and persistent mental disorder. Inpatient services include:

Acute psychiatric inpatient treatment program,Program administration and utilization case management of the Medi-Cal Mental Health Managed Care Plan, Allied Behavioral Care (ABC.

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When the County receives your application, it will be assigned to an intake Eligibility Technician (ET). The worker will review tour application and determine if additional information is needed. Once the ET has all of the necessary information, he or she will determine if you are eligible for Medi-Cal. You will get a letter in the mail telling you if your Medi-Cal application is approved or denied. It can take up to 45 days to process a Medi-Cal application. If you are applying for Medi-cal based on a disability, your application process may take up to 90 days or longer.


To inquire about the status of your Medi-Cal application, please contact your intake worker at the contact number on the letter you received in the mail.

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If you have questions or corncerns about Welfare Fraud, or want to make a report please call:

• 714.347.8400 D.A. Welfare Fraud Unit


• 800.822.6222 Medi-cal Fraud

• 714.834.3608 Orange County Fruad Hotline


• 714.648.3600 Consumer Fraud


• 714.834.2817 County Worker's Compensation Fraud


• You may also access on the web: www.ocgov.com/audit

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You may file a Civil Rights Complaint by e-mail (State only), writing, calling or in person (Orange County):

California Department of Social Services

Civil Rights Bureau (CRB)

P.O. Box 944243, M.S. 15-70

Sacramento, CA 94244-2430

(916) 654-2107 or toll free 1 (866) 741-6241

TDD/TTY Users may call direct at (916) 654-2098 or collect by calling 1 (800) 688-4486 or you may call via the California Relay Service operator at 1 (800) 735-2929

E-Mail: crb@dss.ca.gov

Orange County Social Services

Program Integrity

P.O. Box 22001
Santa Ana, CA 92702-2001

(714) 480-6501 (JoAnn Martinez)

(714) 480-6508 (James Tapia

In person at any Orange County Social Services office, with your worker or with us directly at:

Orange County Social Services

Program Integrity

1200 N. Main St.

Santa Ana, CA 92704

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In 1998, Proposition 99 was passed which placed a 25 cent tax on each pack of cigarettes sold in California. A portion of this money goes to educational programs to assist in decreasing the prevalence of smoking in California. In 1989, the County of Orange Health Care Agency Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) was formed. TUPP aims to significantly decrease tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Orange County. TUPP staff members and community partners conduct educational interventions and participate in community events in order to increase awareness in the general public of the dangers of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Special emphasis is placed keeping youth from starting to smoke. For more information, please visit our website at http://ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/promo/tupp/.
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Please select the related agency or department from the Department Feedback topic under Step 1. Next, scroll down to Step 2 to enter your feedback and Step 3 to send. Thank you for your feedback.

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No, the license can be used within 90 days anywhere in California.
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Yes, Couples must complete their marriage license application online prior to visiting any of our offices. Appointments are highly recommended and have priority. Walk-in service is on a first-come first-served basis. Marriage license applications can be completed at: https://ocweddings.ocrecorder.com/#/.
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For further assistance, please feel free to contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 and speak with a customer service representative, or visit our web site at www.ocrecorder.com.
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Operation Santa Claus provides gifts and toys to Orange County children in need, including: children whom have been abandoned, neglected, and/or abused; children in transition; children whom are physically or mentally challenged; children who are homeless; and, children in foster care or group homes. Authorized by the Board of Supervisors, Operation Santa Claus is the county's only official, county-sponsored, holiday toy drive.

Operation Santa Claus distributes over 58,000 gifts annually and receives assistance with toy collections and distribution through the collaborative efforts of Orange County employees, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys-for-Tots Program, community based organizations, local schools and churches, and private companies and individuals. Operation Santa Clause is coordinated and maintained by the Orange County Social Services Agency, working with other County agencies and departments, including, the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Orange County Fire Authority's "Spark of Love Program," the Health Care Agency, the Probation Department, Housing and Community Services, Child Support Services, and Orange County Libraries, to name a few.

Over 350 volunteers from county agencies and the community have been the backbone of Operation Santa Claus since its inception. What originally began as a small attempt to meet the needs of a handful of children in 1962 has become a major event for the community. Each year residents continue to selflessly donate gifts and cash contributions to Operation Santa Claus at pickup sites throughout the county.

To see how you, too, can make a difference in the life of a child by volunteering or contributing to Operation Santa Claus, please call (714) 825-3159, to receive more information, or visit our website at http://www.ssa.ocgov.com/Be_A_Volunteer/Operation_Santa_Claus/default.asp.

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You can visit the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at any of our offices to apply for a marriage license.
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• The elder or dependent adult will be given options to keep him/her safe from harm.


• The victims and their family members can be linked with appropriate community resources.


• Unaware family members and friends can be alerted to step-in and help.


• The Adult Protective Services social worker can assist victims and their families in developing individualized care plans.


• The reporter can feel relief in knowing that a professional is assessing the situation.

To report abuse, please call the Orange County Adult Protective Services' 24-hour hotline: 1 (800) 451-5155.

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• Adoption Assistance Program


• Adult Services


• Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program


• California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)


• CalLearn


• CalWORKs


• Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)


• Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program


• Child Welfare Services


• California Medical Assistance (Medi-Cal)


• County Medical Services Program (if your complaint is about scope of benefits)


• Emergency Services


• Food Stamps


• In-Home Medical Care


• In-Home Supportive Services


• Interim Assistance for SSI applicants


• Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)


• Personal Care Service Program (PCSP)


• Refugee Cash Assistance


• Repatriate Assistance Program


• Special Circumstance Payment (State Supplemental Program)

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Private physicians and clinics provide TB testing. Two visits are required for a TB skin test. Skin tests are placed on one day and read two or three days later. TB skin tests are not offered by the Health Care Agency to individuals needing work or school clearances, including but not limited to students, teachers, school volunteers, certificated employees (e.g. janitors), health care workers, childcare workers, and foster parents. For more information, see our Pulmonary Disease Services FAQs page at http://ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/dcepi/tb/faq.
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It is $32 for a certified copy of a birth record, $24 for a certified copy of a death record and $17 for a certified copy of a marriage record. The fee for informational copies is the same. For a full list of fees, please visit www.ocrecorder.com and click on "Fees for Service."
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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department has two offices, our main office in downtown Santa Ana (12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 101) and our South County branch office in Laguna Hills (Laguna Hills Civic Center, 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 150). A North County branch office is planned for downtown Fullerton. You can record documents at any of these offices, and you can also request a recording by mail.
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