Assistant Director,

Child Protective Services

Maria Bermudez is the Assistant Director responsible for the management and the provision of services in the Child Welfare Services(CWS) Bureau.  Child Welfare Services provides a wide array of services county-wide which includes, but is not limited to: Court Services, Family Services, Permanency Services, A. Miriam Jamison Children’s Center, Placement Services, and Emergency Response.  CWS works to ensure that children are safe, healthy and live in a permanent environment where they can grow and thrive. 

She began working for Kern County Human Services in 1995 as an extra help Group Counselor at the A. Miriam Jamison Children’s Center.  In 1997, she began working in various child welfare programs as a Social Worker, Social Service Supervisor, Human Services Program Specialist, Human Services Program Director and most recently, as the Assistant Director of the Child Welfare Services Bureau.  Her experience includes working in a variety of child welfare programs including Family Services, Court Services, Permanency Services, foster parent recruitment and retention, and serving as the Foster Parent Ombudsman.  Maria also has experience leading the County Self-Assessment System Improvement Plan and the county’s implementation of Continuum of Care Reform.

Maria is a native of Bakersfield.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and her Master of Social Work from California State University Bakersfield.