Alameda County Social Services Agency — Local services in Hayward

I managed to arrived around 8:55 AM and was done by 10:30 AM. I went to the first floor lobby. There's 3 greeters there. One of the greeters asks you what your issue is about and figures out how to direct you. I received a number and it was called almost immediately after I received for me to go to one of the walk up windows. Then, my case got escalated twice and I received further help via a remote worker who was friendly and knowledgeable.

Some tips for folks going:

1. Traffic is horrendous in this area in the morning as there is a school and other government buildings. Budget extra time.

2. Write down all of your concerns, facts and issues into a summary cover letter and bring backup documents. Workers are friendly, but they are also working quickly to triage cases and figure out how to direct you. Be prepared to advocate for yourself in a concise and succinct way. Having your cover letter handy makes it easier for workers to show their supervisor what is going on and it helped me get my case further escalated.

3. Bring a pen, paper, snacks and water to keep yourself calm and sane. There are 2 waiting rooms with loudspeakers that call the numbers so don't plan to listen to music or podcasts while you wait. You need to pay attention as the numbers come up fast.

I would recommend going in person over calling unless you have a particularly nice case worker assigned to you. I found the in-person experience to be much more service-oriented, friendlier and responsive.

Hope this info helps if...

If there was any lower stars than one I and many others would give it. The least efficient place ever. You get a survice ticket and wait literally hours and hours to be called. Now your task could be just an easy yes or no question, but you are looking at hours of wait. Once your number is called then there is more chance that they will refer you to another window or office for which you have to get another ticket and wait additional 2 hours to be called. There is very poor inthernal coordination among what staff does and should do. You will get different stories from different staff members. People's time is not valued in here at all. There are always at arround 40 people waiting for their ticket to be called so the can speak to a person or explain their issue. Another ridiculous thing is that you dont know how many hours wait time you are looking at because the numbers are called in a very disorganized and confusing manner and they wont tell you either.

70% of the windows are without staff so only two or three people are usually helping the whole county.

And worst than worse is that the result of whatever you do one day is not guaranteed. Never know if the thing promised is going to happen. You wait for weeks and then to find out what happened you have to go through the whole situation again.

The weak management of this Alameda County Social Services office should be ashamed of themselves with such a disorganized and inefficient operation in...

I’m writing this review about Dana Santos, the IHSS social worker assigned to my mother, Galit. Toward the end of the year, when my mother’s health significantly worsened, Dana stepped in with unparalleled professionalism and care to address our urgent needs.

Dana quickly responded to the situation, conducting a thorough and compassionate evaluation of my mother’s condition. She understood the gravity of what we were facing and ensured that my mother received the much-needed increase in care hours. Her ability to act promptly and effectively during such a critical time made all the difference for our family.

What stands out most about Dana is her rare combination of professionalism, knowledge, and genuine kindness. She approached every aspect of her role with respect and empathy, making a difficult process feel manageable. Her dedication to her work and to the people she helps is evident in everything she does.

Dana’s efforts have left a lasting impact on our family, and I cannot emphasize enough how much we appreciate her. She is not just doing her job—she is changing lives. Dana is an invaluable asset to the IHSS program, and I sincerely hope her contributions are recognized with the promotion and acknowledgment she so clearly deserves.

Thank you, Dana, for your hard work, compassion, and commitment. You have truly made a difference, and we are...