San Francisco Purchasing Department

The Registry helps IHSS recipients and people paying privately in San Francisco find screened home care workers and helps workers find jobs. The Registry is administered by the San Francisco IHSS Public Authority, and can accommodate consumers who speak English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese. Services can be arranged in other languages. When a consumer calls the Registry at the Public Authority, one of our bilingual support services counselors will conduct a short interview to assess the consumer's needs and preferences. Using a computer program, the support services counselor matches consumers with workers according to location, language, the domestic or personal care needed, work schedule, and other job-related preferences. Each consumer is sent a list of 6-9 workers. A few days later, a registry counselor calls to check on progress and offer additional support. If needed, IHSS consumers are offered advice on hiring and setting up interviews with available workers. Additional lists are sent to consumers who cannot locate workers from initial lists, and telephone follow-up is conducted until a worker is found or the consumer no longer wants assistance. Public Authority Registry services are free to all IHSS consumers. Home care consumers who are not eligible for IHSS services can receive lists by paying a fee. The amount of the fee is based on the person's monthly income and ranges between no charge and $200 for up to four lists during a three-month period. Registry staff members provide IHSS consumers and workers with support, information and referrals and help to resolve differences amongst consumers, workers, and/or the Department of Aging & Adult Services ( DAAS ). The consumer, not the Registry, is the employer who will interview, hire, and supervise the worker who is chosen from the referral list. Provides worker lists to all consumers who request referrals. The lists are tailor-made by computer to match the needs, preferences, and preferred schedule of both the consumer and the worker The Registry uses computer matching programs to create referral list of worker names for consumers. Services are available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese. Services in other languages can be arranged, and all services are free to IHSS consumers. People who are paying privately for in-home care are charged a fee for registry lists. If you need assistance to keep living at home and are low-income, contact the city's Department of Aging & Adult Services ( DAAS ) to see if you are eligible for In-Home Supportive Services ( IHSS ). The IHSS intake telephone number is: 415 557-5251. If IHSS hours have already been authorized for you, the Central Registry can assist you in finding a home care worker. The worker can help you with household tasks such as cooking, house cleaning, laundry, shopping, or with personal care such as bathing, dressing, and toileting. These home care workers are also known as attendants, personal assistance workers, home health aides, or independent providers. Calling workers on the referral list, setting up interviews, checking references and hiring workers