Human Services

The Human Services Department provides a wide variety of services and programs to County residents. Listed below are the divisions within Human Services and the programs they provide.

Aging Services

. . . fostering the maximum feasible level of independence for the County’s older adults by providing services, advocacy, and assistance.

• Alternatives Program - in-home services for older adults
• Senior Centers - places to socialize, eat a hot lunch, receive services
• Foster Grandparents - low-income older adults work with high-risk children
• Senior Companions - low-income older adults work with frail older adults
• Healthy Aging - health screening services
• Nutrition Program - hot lunches delivered to homebound older adults
• Outreach Program - information and referral source
• Ombudsman Program - legal advocates for those in long-term care facilities
• Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) - volunteer opportunities
• Senior Employment - employment counseling, job search training, job leads
• Transportation Program - door-to-door transportation to essential services
• Chore Services Program - home maintenance for frail older adults
• Legal Services - legal advice, information and assistance

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Animal Services

. . . providing consistent, reliable, and professional solutions for animal-related problems which encourage responsible attitudes and allow people and animals to co-exist in a safer environment.

• Adoption and Customer Service - adoptions, redemptions, licensing, impounds, trap rentals
• Education Program - responsible pet ownership presentations
• Field Service- enforcement of animal control ordinances
• Licensing - a means to visibly identify lost pets and identify rabies vaccination compliance
• Public Affairs - primary media contact for Animal Services
• Shelter Services - food and care for animals in clean, comfortable environment
• Volunteer Program - volunteer opportunities working with animals

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Criminal Justice Services

. . . is committed to equal justice in providing County citizens with cost-effective alternatives to incarceration.

• Adult Compliance and Education Center - probation services for misdemeanant defendants
• Avenue Day Reporting Center - intermediate sentencing sanction
• Court Alternative Treatment - sentencing options for misdemeanor drug offenses
• Inmate Services - education programs for inmates of the Metro jail
• Mediation and Restorative Justice Program - defendants talk face-to-face with victims
• Drug Court - rigorous program for defendants charged with drug-related offenses
• Pre-Trial Services - alternatives to bail identified with defendants
• Treatment Unit - therapists work with clients in all Criminal Justice programs

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Community Resources and Development

. . . makes a positive difference in people’s lives by developing strategies to increase the livability and quality of life in County neighborhoods.

• AmeriCorps/Youth Force - improve development of at-risk youth
• Bridges Volunteer Program - elementary classroom volunteers age 45 and older
• Client Services - assists citizens with multiple problems
• Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) - federal funds for lower income households
• The Home Program - assists with affordable housing development
• Residents Against Graffiti - paint and solvent provided free to remove graffiti
• Commissioner’s Youth Council - high school students address community problems
• Summer Youth Employment Program - work skills, experience for economically disadvantaged youth
• USU Extension Services - home economics, horticulture, agriculture, EFNEP, 4-H
• Volunteer Program Services - volunteer opportunities within Salt Lake County government

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Health Department

. . . promotes, protects, and fosters community and environmental health through quality service.

• Vital Records - birth and death certificates
• Health Promotion and Injury Prevention - educational services to encourage healthier lifestyles
• Public Information - primary media contact for Health Department
• Cultural Competency Program - ensures all people can access primary health care services
• Food Protection - food inspections to more than 3,000 food service establishments
• Air Pollution Control - protects and improves air quality
• Sanitation and Safety - regulatory enforcement for numerous community health issues
• Water Quality and Hazardous Waste - protects water quality and disposal of hazardous waste
• Clinical Services and WIC - clinical public health services and WIC clinics
• Communicable Disease Control - identifies and stops spread of infectious diseases
• Public Health Nursing - referral based assessment, intervention and follow-up
• Epidemiology - surveillance and analysis of health trends of populations

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Library Services

. . . makes a positive difference in the lives of our customers by responsively providing materials, information and services at community libraries throughout the valley and/or via the Library's World Wide Web site.

• Library Services - provides books, music cassettes, CDs, videos, magazines, CD-ROMs
• Jail Library Service - provides books to inmates of the Metro Jails

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Mental Health Services

. . . provided through Valley Mental Health whose mission is to improve, enhance and promote the emotional well-being and growth of individuals who experience life-disrupting problems due to mental illness and/or chemical abuse, and to strengthen the quality of their personal, family and community life.

• Outpatient Services - adult and children clinics located throughout the valley
• Alcohol and Drug Unit - services mentally ill, dual-diagnosis struggling with addiction
• Forensic Outpatient Unit - clients are court referred
• Adolescent Residential Treatment and Educational Center (ARTEC) - youth with emotional/behavioral problems
• Alcohol and Drug Day Treatment (ASAP) - school setting for adolescents with addictions
• Children’s Assessment and Resource - evaluates needs of child in crisis situation
• Children’s Behavioral Therapy Unit (CBTU) - elementary school day treatment
• Alliance House - club house program for mentally ill
• Masters Program - services for elderly with depression or other emotional problems

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Substance Abuse Services

. . . provides a comprehensive continuum of services including prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare programs.

• Assessment and Referral Services - locates treatment for persons misusing alcohol and other drugs
• Prevention Services - contracted agencies work to reduce/eliminate substance abuse
• Treatment Services - contracts with local agencies provide complete range of service needs

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Youth Services

. . . provides immediate and safe intervention to children, youth, and families experiencing personal and/or family crises due to harm or alleged harm of a child, or the ungovernability, acting-out behavior, or involuntary dependency of a youth.

• Youth Services Center - 24 hr crisis counseling to runaway/ungovernable youth
• Shelter Care Program - 24 hr emergency care and licensed shelter home placement
• Girl’s Emergency Group Home - emergency residential placement for girls 11 to 18
• Boy’s Emergency Group Home - emergency residential placement for boys 11 to 18
• Children’s Justice Center - for children/families in crisis due to physical/sexual abuse of child
• Life Enhancement Alternative Program - timely intervention with first "minor delinquent offense"
• Safe Place - 24 hr walk-in shelter for homeless or troubled youth
• Early Intervention/Electronic Monitoring - intensive supervision and in-home treatment
• Truancy Support Center - provides Division youth immediate school involvement
• Juvenile Receiving Center - 24 hour screening, evaluation, referral service for juvenile offenders

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