Community Resources
General Services:
Community Action Partnership of Kern
Provides information on safety net programs such as food banks and assistance, referral services, and more. 661-322-2237.
Kern County Department of Human Services
Links and information about local safety net services, welfare to work, adoptions, fostering, and children's services.
Kern County Resources Caregiver Family Guide to Services 2019
Local Kern County resources for children & family services, food banks, health care, special needs, support groups, public health services, and more.
The Kern County Library provides a full range of services and resources to over 850,000 people in every city and unincorporated area of Kern County through a network operated at Kern County Library Headquarters. 760-384-5870.
Health & Mental Health Services:
Alcoholics Anonymous, IWV District
A community support group for those who seek sobriety, with meetings all over the high desert.
Provides a free 24/7 support helpline for individuals and their families to get immediate help. Guides and resources are also available at the website for people who may not be ready to call. CA Hotline: 211 National Hotline: 866-210-1303.
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Kern County
Provides support, education, and advocacy for people with mental illness as well as their families and friends. NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-6264.
Ridgecrest Crisis Stabilization Unity
Assists adults and youth in East Kern County diagnosed with serious mental illness who are experiencing a mental health crisis and who have a co-occurring substance use disorder. 760-463-2880.
Offers a variety of services for health care needs including cancer center, cardiology, laboratory services, urgent care, urology, and more. RRH is a full service, acute care hospital and is accredited by DNV Healthcare, the State Department of Health Services, and the California Medical Association.
Kern County Public Health Services Department
Programs on unintentional injuries, tobacco use, promoting immunizations, physical activity and healthy eating habits, communicable disease prevention and intervention programs and a variety of pre- and post- natal programs. 661-321-3000.
Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services
Formerly the Kern County Mental Health Department, provides information and services for adults and children, as well as resources for crisis situations and substance use. Crisis Hotline: 1-800-343-4756.
Funded by Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. Specializes in behavioral health and integrated care services in community and home settings, with a clinical team that includes therapists, psychiatrists, and recovery coordinators. 24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-888-321-3000.
Food Programs:
Food pantries can be found at many different locations. Call for current dates & times.
- Kern County Food Bank: 1-800-273-2275 [I.D. required]
- Desert Christian Center: 760-375-9954
- Grace Lutheran Church: 760-375-9768
- Immanuel Baptist Ministry Center: 760-446-4531
- St. Ann's Catholic Church: 760-375-2110
- St. Michael's Episcopal Church: 760-446-5816
- United Methodist Church: 760-375-7434
Food banks are growing at Cerro Coso campuses!
Kern County Aging & Adult Services: Senior Nutrition
Provides food assistance to senior citizens aged 60 and over, in the form of cafeteria and home-delivered meals. 661-868-1000.
Salvation Army, Ridgecrest Corps
Provides shelter, financial assistance, disaster services, casework & addiction services, and a food pantry Monday-Thursday. 760-375-7219.
Disability Services:
Kern Regional Center is contracted by the State of California through the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to coordinate community-based services and support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Desert Area Resources & Training
D.A.R.T. provides services and opportunities to people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities or other special needs. 760-375-9787.
Violence, Assault, and Abuse Resources:
A non-profit organization providing a network of services relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse for Eastern Kern county and surrounding counties. General Phone: 760-371-1969.
24-Hour Helpline for Domestic Violence: 760-375-7525.
24-Hour Helpline for Sexual Assault and/or Abuse: 760-375-0745.
24-Hour Helpline for Child Abuse Prevention: 760-375-7100.
Child Services:
Cerro Coso Child Development Center
Provides day care to families who qualify. Cerro Coso students are given priority. 760-384-6362.
The Office of Head Start (OHS) helps young children from low-income families prepare to succeed in school through local programs. Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote children's development through services that support early learning, health, and family well-being. 1-866-763-6481.
Senior Services:
Kern County Aging & Adult Services
Services available to seniors 60 and over, including delivered meals, adult protective services, health insurance assistance, transportation, home care, and other supportive services. 661-868-1000.
Employment Services:
Staffing Alternatives & Specialized Services
S.A.S.S. provides personnel placements in the Indian Wells Valley, the Eastern Sierras-High Desert region of California and throughout the United States. 760-375-1003.
Continental Labor & Staffing Resources
Provides staffing to meet client specifications, including certifications, background checks, DMV records, drug testing, and much more. 760-446-3525.
America's Job Center of California
AJCC provides basic training courses and also partners with Employers' Training Resource (ETR) for more in-depth training courses. Services include providing no-cost training, job placement services, and providing applicant recruitment and screening.
Economic & Business Services:
The Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce is an alliance of business leaders which are the voice of advocacy, providing benefits and services to its members, while creating a strong local economy and promoting the community.
Indian Wells Valley Economic Development Corporation
The IWV EDC is a 501(c)(3) economic development non-profit that strives to enhance the economy and improve the quality of life for the greater Ridgecrest area. 760-385-8811.
CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center
SBDC promotes the development, growth, and success of small businesses & aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Kern, Inyo, & Mono Counties. Sign up for free SBDC services via the link above.
A free resource guide that provides information for the most common business startup expenses, including a calculator tool to estimate costs.
Disclaimer:
Links to external commercial and private sites do not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of any services or products that may be advertised, offered, recommended, or produced by those sites' organizations