The Contra Costa County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority is a public agency whose general purpose is to improve the IHSS program for IHSS consumers and workers. Public Authority services include:

	Recruiting and screening independent providers;
	Maintaining a registry of providers;
	Referring providers to IHSS consumers;
	Offering educational opportunities to IHSS Consumers and providers;
	and consumer and provider support services.

The Board of Supervisors created the IHSS Public Authority Registry to assist IHSS consumers with finding home care providers and also assist home care providers to find work.

The Registry recruits, interviews, screens, and keeps a listing of home care providers in a special computer Program. When an IHSS consumer requests help, the Registry searches the information in the computer to produce a list of home care providers who match the service needs and preferences of the caller. The lists are sent to consumers who interview and hire the providers.

In addition, the Registry provides information and assistance to consumers and providers on the IHSS program, how the IHSS system functions, plus:

	How to hire a provider
	Rights and responsibilities of consumers and providers
	How to complete time sheets
	How to schedule providers
	How to protect themselves and others from infectious diseases

The Registry is a no-cost referral service. If you are enrolled in the In-Home Supportive Services program and want help in finding a provider, call Registry Staff at (800) 333-1081.

IHSS Public Authority Advisory Committee
Eleven members of the public, six of whom use In-Home Supportive Services or Personal Assistance Services, and five who have professional experience in the field, serve on an Advisory Committee to the Public Authority. These individuals have been appointed by the Board of Supervisors to represent the broad constituency of the IHSS system, and to make recommendations to the Board regarding the IHSS program.

The Advisory Committee meets ten (10) times a year to discuss issues that confront both IHSS recipients and home care providers in Contra Costa County. The “consumer” members are:

	Dave Thayer, Oakley
	Catherine Cratty, Antioch
	Ethel Dotson, Richmond
	Bertha Stobb, Pittsburg
	Michael Fernandes
	Vacant

The other members, and the categories and County districts they represent are:

	District 1, Ida Miles, Community Based Organization
	District 2, Vacant
	District 3, Joan Weber, Elder Advocate
	District 4, Paul De Mange,Younger Disabled Advocate

Advisory Committee members want to hear your ideas for improving IHSS or about any problems you may have with the system. You can reach them through the Public Authority office at (800) 333-1081.

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