Getting Help from SETA — Sacramento's Employment and Community Action Agency
If you live in Sacramento County and need help finding work, enrolling a young child in Head Start, accessing emergency rental or utility assistance, or navigating services as a newly arrived refugee, the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency — SETA — is the place to start. As a joint powers agency of the City and County of Sacramento and the designated Community Action Agency for the county, SETA either runs these programs directly or funds the neighborhood-based organizations that do. This is a guide to what is offered, where to start, and how to apply.
SETA operates four distinct service areas, each with its own entry point: Sacramento Works for job seekers and workforce services, Children and Family Services for Head Start and infant care, Refugee Services for employment and support for newly arrived immigrants, and Community Services for emergency assistance funded through the federal Community Services Block Grant. This page explains how each works and how to access them.
The main SETA number is (916) 263-3800. The administrative office is at 925 Del Paso Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815. The main website is https://www.seta.net/.
Sacramento Works — job training, career coaching, and job placement
Sacramento County residents who are unemployed, underemployed, or looking to advance their careers can access Sacramento Works at no cost. SETA operates America's Job Centers of California (AJCCs) across the county — commonly called Job Centers — where staff help people assess their career options, develop job search skills, prepare resumes, access online job listings, and connect with training opportunities. Virtual and in-person appointments are both available.
Two specialized services are worth knowing about specifically. The Public Sector Pathways program provides coaching for people pursuing government jobs — a significant employment sector in Sacramento — walking clients through the specific application and testing processes that state and local government positions require. There is also a Career and Job Placement Assistance program tailored for community college students. Both operate through the Job Centers.
To find the nearest Job Center, visit https://sacworks.seta.net/ and use the location finder. You can also access Sacramento's online job seeker platform, CalJobs (caljobs.ca.gov), which SETA supports for posting resumes and finding job listings in the region.
Head Start and Early Head Start — free preschool and infant/toddler care
SETA's Children and Family Services division operates Head Start and Early Head Start programs across more than 100 centers in Sacramento County, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pregnant people. The program is free to qualifying low-income families and combines early education with health screenings, dental care, nutrition, mental health support, and family services — making it one of the more comprehensive early childhood resources available in the county.
Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5. Early Head Start serves children from birth through age 2, as well as pregnant women. Both part-day and full-day options are available; full-day programming is designed specifically for families where adults are working or in school full-time. Classes operate Monday through Friday.
Families receiving TANF, SNAP, or SSI benefits are eligible regardless of total household income — those benefits alone qualify a child for enrollment. Children with IEPs or IFSPs (special education plans) and children in foster or kinship care are also eligible regardless of income.
To apply, submit an online interest form at cfs.seta.net. After submission, a Family Service Worker should contact you within two weeks. If you don't hear back after two weeks, call the enrollment line at (916) 263-6113. Be aware that submitting the interest form does not guarantee placement — enrollment is based on availability and priority points assigned at application, and waitlists exist at many centers.
When you're contacted, you'll need to gather the following documents: birth verification for the child enrolling; birth certificates for all siblings under 18 in the home (required for full-day programs to verify family size); proof of income from the past 12 months (pay stubs, a signed tax return, or documentation of TANF, SNAP, SSI, or CalWORKs benefits); current immunization records; insurance cards for medical, dental, and/or Medi-Cal; and, if applicable, any IEP documentation or court orders for foster care or custody. SETA does not provide transportation to and from centers, but can assist families in obtaining bus passes or other transportation help.
Refugee Services — employment and support for newly arrived immigrants
SETA has operated a refugee support program since 1983. Through a network of contracted partner organizations, SETA helps Sacramento County residents who qualify under federal refugee classifications get established in the workforce and community.
Eligible individuals include refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVs), Cuban and Haitian Entrants, certified victims of human trafficking, and Amerasians. To be eligible, you must be a Sacramento County resident, have been in the United States for less than five years, be at least 16 years old, and not be enrolled full-time in primary or secondary school. See the NHPB guide to help for Undocumented and Legal Immigrants in the U.S..
Services available through SETA's refugee provider network include: English language instruction and Vocational ESL, employment services and job placement, job retention assistance, housing and utility assistance, technology assistance, and cultural orientation programming for older refugees. Providers include organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, Asian Resources Inc., Bach Viet Association, Lao Family Community Development, and World Relief Sacramento, among others.
To find the refugee service provider closest to you, visit seta.net/refugee-csbg-providers or call (916) 263-3800. You can also reach the refugee program directly at [email protected]..
Community Services Block Grant — emergency and basic needs assistance
As Sacramento County's designated Community Action Agency, SETA administers Community Services Block Grant funding through a network of neighborhood-based partner organizations. CSBG is the federal anti-poverty program designed to address immediate crises while also supporting longer-term stability. For a low-income Sacramento County resident who needs emergency help and isn't sure where to start, this is the right first call.
Services available through CSBG-funded programs from SETA include rental assistance and eviction avoidance, utility and food assistance, and transportation assistance. There is also case management, employment support and skill development, clothing support, and hygiene items. What's available at any given moment depends on current funding and the specific provider in your area - or for other options see the Sacramento rental assistance program page.
Call to confirm current income limits before applying. Households in which any member receives SSI or TANF also automatically qualify.
How to reach SETA
The main contact information includes the following. Main office: 925 Del Paso Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95815. Main phone: (916) 263-3800. The main website of https://www.seta.net/ has dedicated links to Head Start enrollment; Refugee Services; Community Services / CSBG and other programs.
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