Community Spotlight: Riverside County Department of Public Social Services

Written by: Francisco Valverde, Open Doors Facilitator

On May 27, 2026, we had the honor and privilege of partnering with the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to facilitate an Open Doors Core Training.

Riverside County DPSS’s mission is to support and improve the health, safety, well-being, and independence of individuals and families throughout the county. During our training, we spent the day with social workers, social services practitioners, supervisors, and residential care staff who are deeply committed to the well-being of youth.

“This was a really great training; the groundwork was informative and realistic, and today’s training followed suit. We were able to have conversations that were catered to our work and can be used to positively interact with our youth.” — Crystal Williams, Social Services Practitioner 3

Open Doors helps youth-serving adults build the skills and confidence to support young people navigating substance use and other behavioral health challenges. Rooted in harm reduction, restorative justice, cultural humility, and youth-centered engagement, the training focuses on creating nonjudgmental spaces where young people can feel heard, respected, and connected to support.

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Facilitator Reflection

There was a wide range of experiences and diversity within our group, which led to fruitful conversations about how to support young people navigating substance abuse and other behavioral health challenges. The conversations specifically around harm reduction highlighted real-life examples of how this approach can be used to engage youth with empathy, openness, and care, while also promoting safety and honoring youth autonomy.

We really enjoyed the conversation and vulnerability shared throughout the training space. There was a strong sense of community, and we deeply appreciated the group’s engagement as we moved through each section of the training.

After the training, we felt a deep sense of gratitude and were impressed by the level of care, authenticity, and empathy that participants bring to their work with youth every day.

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