State Advisory Council
Background
In accordance with the Refugee Act of 1980, the California State Advisory Council (SAC) on Refugee Assistance and Services was established by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
Members meet to provide input on critical issues affecting refugees and make recommendations regarding policy decisions that are crucial to the development of comprehensive, responsive, client-centered, and culturally and linguistically sensitive refugee resettlement programs in California. Issues may include, but are not limited to, income assistance, health services, employment services, and acculturation services for California’s resettled refugees.
Mission & Vision
The SAC’s mission is to provide recommendations to the Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) on issues, services, and policies that impact people seeking successful resettlement and integration in California.
Their vision is to make California a place where all individuals have equitable access to resources and opportunities to be empowered to thrive and become engaged community members.
Membership
Through the involvement of a broad coalition of agencies, service organizations, and private stakeholders comprising the 18-member body, the SAC is in a unique position to assist California in forming more comprehensive, culturally informed, and cohesive refugee resettlement programs.
The SAC also includes three Standing Committees (the Policy Committee, Governance Committee, and Membership Committee), each focused on key priorities.
The Council’s effectiveness depends on maintaining a diverse member body with a wide range of professional expertise and lived experience. Membership is determined through a public nomination and voting process (or by appointment for organization seats). Members are elected for three years at a time, by majority vote, following a 30-day open nomination window. Open positions may occasionally be posted interim to the three-year term windows.
For more information on member appointment and the requirements for nominations, reference the appointment information below.
Appointment
SAC Public Seat member nominations are announced officially in a call for nominations on this webpage. If nominations are being actively accepted, you will see a notice posted in the section below on this webpage.
Public Seat members are appointed to 3-year terms by the CDSS upon recommendation of the SAC. Organizational Seat members are appointed by the CDSS and the relevant agency, but openings will be posted to the website for the public’s general awareness.
Open Seats
Nominations for open public seats will be taken by CDSS for a period of thirty days beginning the date on which nominations open. Should no nominations be received during the thirty-day period, CDSS may repost the nomination announcement, with new opening and closing dates, until a sufficient number of nominations are received. The SAC and CDSS will then review all nominations and select the most appropriate candidate to fill the open position(s).
The process for membership for open public seats on the SAC, not otherwise nominated by public organizations or appointed by the Governor, helps ensure an open and transparent nomination and voting process; a full and honest vetting of candidates by SAC members; and the best qualified candidates elected to assume open seats.
Currently, CDSS is working to fill two (2) open organizational seats on the SAC: the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) seat and Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) seat.
Open Seats - Posted July 16, 2026
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) is announcing two (2) open Public Seats on the State Advisory Council on Refugee Assistance and Services (SAC). The appointment terms are for three (3) years and begin ninety (90) days from the date of announcement or pending confirmation of a vote in the soonest SAC Quarterly Meeting. The SAC is looking for individuals to fill these seats who would like to utilize their skills, knowledge, expertise, and passion to contribute to the mission of the SAC, which is to provide recommendations to the RPB on issues, services, and policies that impact people seeking successful resettlement and integration in California. Please view the SAC webpage for more information.
A completed SAC nomination packet must include the following:
- SAC Nomination Form
- Current Resume
- Three (3) Professional References
A notification of the closure of open seats will be posted for each seat upon reaching the end of the nomination period. Completed nominations (with all components of the packet) will be accepted within thirty (30) days from the announcement of the open seat and on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date and time of the receipt of the application. Once you have applied, you will receive confirmation of your application and if you have been accepted as a nominee. The SAC By-Laws can be found via the link above, under Additional Resources.
Please submit the completed nomination packet via email to RPB@dss.ca.gov or by mail to:
CDSS/Refugee Programs Bureau
Attn: State Advisory Council 744 P Street, MS 09-06-646
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you have questions, please contact the Training and Technical Assistance Unit at RPBTTAU@dss.ca.gov.
Nominations Form
SAC Nomination Form
Upcoming SAC Meetings
Quarterly Meetings
The SAC meets quarterly to discuss matters pertaining to refugee resettlement. These regularly scheduled meetings are open to the public and occur once per quarter on the 2nd Thursday of the month, with additional meetings scheduled as needed.
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Quarterly Meeting - Thursday, June 11, 2026 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Agenda
Standing Committee Meetings
The SAC’s Standing Committee meetings are open to the public and occur on an as-needed basis only, with varying dates and times.
- Policy Committee - Tuesday, July 7, 2026 , 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Agenda
Previous Meeting Information
- Quarterly Meeting -March 12, 2026 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Meeting Minutes
- Supplemental Meeting - February 27, 2026 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Meeting Minutes
SAC Meeting Agendas and Minutes (4.18 MB) (format: year, month and day)
Additional Resources Resources
Note: Some of the links above are are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). If needed, please see Tips for Using Adobe PDF Files for details.
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