4 jobs found in atwater

Position Information Under general direction, the Social Worker Supervisor II plans, organizes, and directs the work of social service staff providing the most advanced social services; and performs other related work as assigned. Supervising Social Worker requires a Master's degree. Incumbents supervise a unit of caseworkers in specific programs identified as having a high proportion of complex and sensitive casework needs and are usually assigned to programs or staff positions that require extensive casework knowledge. Some positions in larger departments may be assigned full time in-service training and staff development duties. SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED Supervising Social Worker receives direction from a Social Services Program Administrator or other management level classification. Supervising Social Worker incumbents provide direct supervision to lower level Social Workers including Social Worker IVs. Minimum Qualifications Pattern 1: Two (2) years of full-time experience performing duties of the Social Worker III in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county; AND A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university or a Master's degree from an accredited two (2) year counseling program.* OR Pattern 2: One (1) year of full-time experience performing duties of the Social Worker IV classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county; AND A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university or a Master's degree from an accredited two (2) year counseling program.* OR Pattern 3: Four (4) years of full-time experience performing social work case management duties;** AND A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university or a Master's degree from an accredited two (2) year counseling program.* *Qualifying Master's degrees include: Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling, Gerontology and Counseling Psychology. Completion of all of the requirements for a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license program may be substituted upon submission of verifying proof. **Qualifying social work case management includes direct case work management, such as: assessment, evaluation; conducting investigations of abuse and neglect; preparing court reports; responsibility for a long term caseload, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact; collaboration with other agencies and linking clients to resources and programs; development of a case plan, modification of case plans as needed/required; and authority to impose sanctions or implement actions that impact services.Some positions may require work in Adoptions. Per the State of California Regulations, Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 9, subsection 89155, applicants for Social Worker IV and Social Worker Supervisor II positions assigned to work in Adoptions must have a Master's degree in Social Work at time of application, in order to be selected for the position. While the above requirements outline the minimum qualifications, applicants may be further evaluated for qualifications beyond those listed. Those applicants that are determined to be most highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Supplemental Information ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A valid California driver's license and DMV clearance may be required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for positions within the Human Services Agency are subject to a criminal history background check. Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records.Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information. The eligible list resulting from this recruitmentmay be used to fill vacancies in Children's Services or Adult Services. 10% salary differential for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Marriage Family Therapist (MFT) designations. VETERANS PREFERENCE If you would like to have Veteran's preference points included as part of the application packet, please submit a copy of your DD-214 form. Applicants must fax a copy of the DD-214 form to CPS HR Consulting at 916-648-1211 by the close of business on the application deadline. The form should include the position title and county you are applying for. PLEASE NOTE: Applicants, who receive a passing score on a written or oral examination, shall be eligible to receive credit for an additional five (5) points to be added to the final examination score. Veteran's preference is allowed only on initial entrance into County service and shall not affect the order of eligibility on any other employment lists. For the purpose of this section, a veteran is one who has received an honorable discharge from active duty, and has served: 1. During one of the following wartime or equivalent periods: Sept. 11, 2001 to End of Operation Iraqi Freedom Aug. 2, 1990 to Jan. 2, 1992 Jan. 31, 1955 to Oct. 15, 1976 2. During peacetime for which service a campaign or expeditionary medal has been authorized by the Government of the United States and where discharge was under honorable conditions. This would include Lebanon, Grenada and Southwest Asia. A copy of the discharge form (DD-214) shall be submitted to CPS HR Consulting for each position applied for, along with an application for employment requesting such preference, on or before the final filing date specified on the job announcement. Failure to submit the required credentials (DD-214) prior to the final filing date will be deemed a waiver of credits. EXAMINATION INFORMATION If supplemental questions are included as a part of this job bulletin, applicants may be rated based upon their responses to the supplemental questions. If rated, only those that are determined to be highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CPS HR Consulting at mss@cpshr.usor 916-471-3507 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school, or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination. ABOUT MERCED COUNTY Merced County is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley in central California, an area earning worldwide acclaim for its rich agriculture, and spans from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park. The City of Merced, the self-proclaimed Gateway to Yosemite, has a population of approximately 81,102, yet retains the charm of a small town with amenities routinely found in larger communities. Merced's revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. The County is representative of the rural heartland and Gold Rush remnants underpinning the state's heritage. It is a peaceful, quiet, and friendly area with an abundance of beautiful bike paths, and offers choices of higher education in UC Merced and Merced College. From a political perspective, Merced County is considered to be a bellwether county, having voted for the successful presidential candidate in every election from 1972 to 2012. Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Position Information Under general direction, the Social Worker IV A/B performs casework of an advanced nature dealing with complex individual and family problems; undertakes intensive treatment plans and counseling requiring professional knowledge and training; performs other related work as assigned. Incumbents at this level carry a specialized caseload requiring professional competence. Typical assignments would involve dealing with individual and family problems requiring advanced social work skills and techniques designed to motivate individuals and families toward self support, self care and to restore or improve social functioning. Other assignments may include serving as Casework Consultant in Emergency Response, Family Maintenance/Reunification, Child Protective Services, Social Worker in community organization, or as an Intake Worker. Social Worker IV A/B requires a Master's degree and social work case management experience in a public or private social services agency. This is the highest non-supervisory level in the series. Incumbents perform casework requiring the application of high level and sophisticated social services expertise and techniques, generally in areas such as adult and child protective services. The MQ patterns of the SW IV-B mirror the patterns for the SW IV-A. The distinguishing difference is that the SW IV-B requires one additional year of experience from what is required for the SW IV-A. Social Worker IV differs from the next higher class of Social Worker Supervisor I in that the latter is the first supervisory level. Social Worker IV differs from Social Worker III in that the latter does not require both a Master's degree and qualifying experience. SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED Social Worker IV A/B receives supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level supervisor or manager pursuant to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Manual of Policy and Procedures (MPP) Division 31 regulations (31.070). A Social Worker IV A/B may provide lead direction to lower level Social Workers or service employees. Minimum Qualifications Social Worker IV A Pattern 1: A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university; OR Pattern 2: A Master's degree from an accredited two (2) year counseling program*; *Qualifying counseling degrees from a two (2) year counseling program includes: Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling, Gerontology, Counseling Psychology. OR Pattern 3: One (1) year of full-time experience performing advanced journey (equivalent to a MSS SW III) level social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency and Master's degree in social or behavioral science, psychology, anthropology, sociology and counseling education. Social Worker IV B (This level is for candidates with a Master's degree and experience. Experience during an internship does not count at this level). Pattern 1: A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of full-time experience performing social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency; OR Pattern 2: A Master's degree from an accredited college or university two (2) year counseling program* and one (1) year of full-time experience performing social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency; *Qualifying counseling degrees from a two (2) year counseling program includes: Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling, Gerontology, Counseling Psychology. OR Pattern 3: Two (2) years of full-time experience performing advanced journey (equivalent to a MSS SW III) level social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency and Master's degree in social or behavioral science, psychology, anthropology, sociology and counseling education . NOTE: Applicants who anticipate completing the requirements for a qualifying Master's Degree within six months of the final filing date may apply. Supplemental Information ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A valid California driver's license and DMV clearance will be required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Rate for SW IV-B $29.44 - $35.81 Hourly Recruitment may be used to fill vacancies in Children's Services or Adult Services Extra-Help employees are limited to working no more than 25 hours per week Applicants for positions within the Human Services Agency are subject to a criminal history background check. Some positions may require work in Adoptions. Per the State of California Regulations, Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 9, subsection 89155, applicants for Social Worker IV and Social Worker Supervisor II positions assigned to work in Adoptions must have a Master's degree in Social Work at time of application, in order to be selected for the position. VETERANS PREFERENCE If you would like to have Veteran's preference points included as part of the application packet, please submit a copy of your DD-214 form. Applicants must fax a copy of the DD-214 form to CPS HR Consulting at 916-648-1211 by the close of business on the application deadline. The form should include the position title and county you are applying for. PLEASE NOTE: Applicants, who receive a passing score on a written or oral examination, shall be eligible to receive credit for an additional five (5) points to be added to the final examination score. Veteran's preference is allowed only on initial entrance into County service and shall not affect the order of eligibility on any other employment lists. For the purpose of this section, a veteran is one who has received an honorable discharge from active duty, and has served: 1. During one of the following wartime or equivalent periods: Sept. 11, 2001 to End of Operation Iraqi Freedom Aug. 2, 1990 to Jan. 2, 1992 Jan. 31, 1955 to Oct. 15, 1976 2. During peacetime for which service a campaign or expeditionary medal has been authorized by the Government of the United States and where discharge was under honorable conditions. This would include Lebanon, Grenada and Southwest Asia. A copy of the discharge form (DD-214) shall be submitted to CPS HR Consulting for each position applied for, along with an application for employment requesting such preference, on or before the final filing date specified on the job announcement. Failure to submit the required credentials (DD-214) prior to the final filing date will be deemed a waiver of credits. EXAMINATION INFORMATION If supplemental questions are included as a part of this job bulletin, applicants may be rated based upon their responses to the supplemental questions. If rated, only those that are determined to be highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CPS HR Consulting at mss@cpshr.us or 916-471-3507 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school, or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination. ABOUT MERCED COUNTY Merced County is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley in central California, an area earning worldwide acclaim for its rich agriculture, and spans from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park. The City of Merced, the self-proclaimed Gateway to Yosemite, has a population of approximately 81,102, yet retains the charm of a small town with amenities routinely found in larger communities. Merced's revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. The County is representative of the rural heartland and Gold Rush remnants underpinning the state's heritage. It is a peaceful, quiet, and friendly area with an abundance of beautiful bike paths, and offers choices of higher education in UC Merced and Merced College. From a political perspective, Merced County is considered to be a bellwether county, having voted for the successful presidential candidate in every election from 1972 to 2012. Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Position Information Under general direction, the Social Worker III carries a difficult caseload involving the determination of need for basic social services functions for applicants or clients; performs social studies and assignments involving individualized treatment and specialized application of casework methods and skills; provides comprehensive casework services of a tangible nature; and performs other related work as assigned. Social Worker III is thesecond journey level in the Social Worker series. Incumbents are normally assigned a selected caseload of the more difficult cases and when needed are given supervisory consultation in development of treatment plans. They may also be assigned to a specialized function requiring a high degree of perception such as a special problem caseload or they are assigned to a specific geographic or functional area such as Court Investigations, Family Maintenance/Reunification, Emergency Response, Child/Adult Protection, or Foster Care.Incumbents are expected to work independently and may determine initial and continuing eligibility for one or more aid programs in accordance with established procedures. Social Worker III differs from Social Worker II in that the former receives the more difficult assignments requiring greater skill and depth of job knowledge in assessing problem situations and formulating plans for services. Incumbents normally work with a high degree of independence of action in administering services and in making use of agency or community resources. Social Worker III differs from Social Worker IV-A/B in that the latter is the most experienced worker and requires both advanced education and social work experience. SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED Incumbents in the Social Worker III classification receive general direction from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level manager or deputy director. Minimum Qualifications Pattern 1: One (1) year of full-time experience performing journey level social work case management in the Social Worker II classification in an Interagency Merit System (IMS) county; OR Pattern 2: Two (2) years of full-time social work case management experience in a public or private agency; AND Thirty (30) semester units (45 quarter units) from an accredited college or university, including fifteen (15) semester units (22.5 quarter units) in social welfare, social/human services, sociology, or other social or behavioral science;** OR Pattern 3: Bachelor's degree and successful completion of twenty-four (24) semester (36 quarter units) of a Master's degree program in Social Work, or a Counseling program from an accredited college or university, emphasizing Marriage, Family and Child Counseling or Marriage and Family therapy, Gerontology or Clinical Psychology; AND Twelve (12) months of social work case management experience.* *Qualifying social work case management includes direct case work management, such as: assessment, evaluation; conducting investigations of abuse and neglect; preparing court reports; responsibility for a long term caseload, monitoring compliance through home calls and other personal contact; collaboration with other agencies and linking clients to resources and programs; development of a case plan, modification of case plans as needed/required; and authority to impose sanctions or implement actions that impact services. **Examples of acceptable social or behavioral science courses include: anthropology, criminal justice, education, ethnic studies, history, human development, law, human services, nursing, nutrition, psychology, public health, social welfare, sociology, welfare, women's studies. Supplemental Information ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A valid California driver's license and DMV clearance may be required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Extra-Help employees are limited to working no more than 25 hours per week. Applicants for positions within the Human Services Agency are subject to a criminal history background check. Government agencies accessing US government information, which include federal tax information must ensure that background investigation requirements for all agency employees and contractors that have access to federal tax information are consistent to the IRS background investigation requirements for access to federal tax information. A background check may be required if the position requires access to these types of records.Background requirements consist of three components which include, fingerprinting, citizenship verification and local law enforcement checks. State agencies must conduct investigation during time of hire and ensure a reinvestigation is conducted 10 years from the date of the previous background investigation for each employee that has access to federal tax information. This is an extra-help position limited to a maximum of 25 work hours per week. VETERANS PREFERENCE If you would like to have Veteran's preference points included as part of the application packet, please submit a copy of your DD-214 form. Applicants must fax a copy of the DD-214 form to CPS HR Consulting at 916-648-1211 by the close of business on the application deadline. The form should include the position title and county you are applying for. PLEASE NOTE: Applicants, who receive a passing score on a written or oral examination, shall be eligible to receive credit for an additional five (5) points to be added to the final examination score. Veteran's preference is allowed only on initial entrance into County service and shall not affect the order of eligibility on any other employment lists. For the purpose of this section, a veteran is one who has received an honorable discharge from active duty, and has served: 1. During one of the following wartime or equivalent periods: Sept. 11, 2001 to End of Operation Iraqi Freedom Aug. 2, 1990 to Jan. 2, 1992 Jan. 31, 1955 to Oct. 15, 1976 2. During peacetime for which service a campaign or expeditionary medal has been authorized by the Government of the United States and where discharge was under honorable conditions. This would include Lebanon, Grenada and Southwest Asia. A copy of the discharge form (DD-214) shall be submitted to CPS HR Consulting for each position applied for, along with an application for employment requesting such preference, on or before the final filing date specified on the job announcement. Failure to submit the required credentials (DD-214) prior to the final filing date will be deemed a waiver of credits. EXAMINATION INFORMATION If supplemental questions are included as a part of this job bulletin, applicants may be rated based upon their responses to the supplemental questions. If rated, only those that are determined to be highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CPS HR Consulting at mss@cpshr.us or 916-471-3507 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school, or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination. ABOUT MERCED COUNTY Merced County is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley in central California, an area earning worldwide acclaim for its rich agriculture, and spans from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park. The City of Merced, the self-proclaimed Gateway to Yosemite, has a population of approximately 81,102, yet retains the charm of a small town with amenities routinely found in larger communities. Merced's revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. The County is representative of the rural heartland and Gold Rush remnants underpinning the state's heritage. It is a peaceful, quiet, and friendly area with an abundance of beautiful bike paths, and offers choices of higher education in UC Merced and Merced College. From a political perspective, Merced County is considered to be a bellwether county, having voted for the successful presidential candidate in every election from 1972 to 2012. Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Position Information Under general direction, the Social Worker IV A/B performs casework of an advanced nature dealing with complex individual and family problems; undertakes intensive treatment plans and counseling requiring professional knowledge and training; performs other related work as assigned. Incumbents at this level carry a specialized caseload requiring professional competence. Typical assignments would involve dealing with individual and family problems requiring advanced social work skills and techniques designed to motivate individuals and families toward self support, self care and to restore or improve social functioning. Other assignments may include serving as Casework Consultant in Emergency Response, Family Maintenance/Reunification, Child Protective Services, Social Worker in community organization, or as an Intake Worker. Social Worker IV A/B requires a Master's degree and social work case management experience in a public or private social services agency. This is the highest non-supervisory level in the series. Incumbents perform casework requiring the application of high level and sophisticated social services expertise and techniques, generally in areas such as adult and child protective services. The MQ patterns of the SW IV-B mirror the patterns for the SW IV-A. The distinguishing difference is that the SW IV-B requires one additional year of experience from what is required for the SW IV-A. Social Worker IV differs from the next higher class of Social Worker Supervisor I in that the latter is the first supervisory level. Social Worker IV differs from Social Worker III in that the latter does not require both a Master's degree and qualifying experience. SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED Social Worker IV A/B receives supervision from a Social Worker Supervisor or other higher-level supervisor or manager pursuant to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Manual of Policy and Procedures (MPP) Division 31 regulations (31.070). A Social Worker IV A/B may provide lead direction to lower level Social Workers or service employees. Minimum Qualifications Social Worker IV A Pattern 1: A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university; OR Pattern 2: A Master's degree from an accredited two (2) year counseling program*; *Qualifying counseling degrees from a two (2) year counseling program includes: Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling, Gerontology, Counseling Psychology. OR Pattern 3: One (1) year of full-time experience performing advanced journey (equivalent to a MSS SW III) level social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency and Master's degree in social or behavioral science, psychology, anthropology, sociology and counseling education. Social Worker IV B (This level is for candidates with a Master's degree and experience. Experience during an internship does not count at this level). Pattern 1: A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of full-time experience performing social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency; OR Pattern 2: A Master's degree from an accredited college or university two (2) year counseling program* and one (1) year of full-time experience performing social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency; *Qualifying counseling degrees from a two (2) year counseling program includes: Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Addiction Counseling, Gerontology, Counseling Psychology. OR Pattern 3: Two (2) years of full-time experience performing advanced journey (equivalent to a MSS SW III) level social work case management as a Social Worker in a public or private agency and Master's degree in social or behavioral science, psychology, anthropology, sociology and counseling education . NOTE: Applicants who anticipate completing the requirements for a qualifying Master's Degree within six months of the final filing date may apply. While the above requirements outline the minimum qualifications, applicants may be further evaluated for qualifications beyond those listed. Those applicants that are determined to be most highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Supplemental Information ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A valid California driver's license and DMV clearance will be required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants for positions within the Human Services Agency are subject to a criminal history background check. Salary for SW IV-B $29.44 - $35.81 Hourly $2,355.20 - $2,864.80 Biweekly $5,102.93 - $6,207.07 Monthly Recruitment may be used to fill vacancies in Children's Services or Adult Services 10% licensure differential will be paid for possession of a valid L.C.S.W. or M.F.T. license and performing in-depth assessments and counseling of child welfare clients, and/or for providing licensure supervision hours. Some positions may require work in Adoptions. Per the State of California Regulations, Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 9, subsection 89155, applicants for Social Worker IV and Social Worker Supervisor II positions assigned to work in Adoptions must have a Master's degree in Social Work at time of application, in order to be selected for the position. VETERANS PREFERENCE If you would like to have Veteran's preference points included as part of the application packet, please submit a copy of your DD-214 form. Applicants must fax a copy of the DD-214 form to CPS HR Consulting at 916-648-1211 by the close of business on the application deadline. The form should include the position title and county you are applying for. PLEASE NOTE: Applicants, who receive a passing score on a written or oral examination, shall be eligible to receive credit for an additional five (5) points to be added to the final examination score. Veteran's preference is allowed only on initial entrance into County service and shall not affect the order of eligibility on any other employment lists. For the purpose of this section, a veteran is one who has received an honorable discharge from active duty, and has served: 1. During one of the following wartime or equivalent periods: Sept. 11, 2001 to End of Operation Iraqi Freedom Aug. 2, 1990 to Jan. 2, 1992 Jan. 31, 1955 to Oct. 15, 1976 2. During peacetime for which service a campaign or expeditionary medal has been authorized by the Government of the United States and where discharge was under honorable conditions. This would include Lebanon, Grenada and Southwest Asia. A copy of the discharge form (DD-214) shall be submitted to CPS HR Consulting for each position applied for, along with an application for employment requesting such preference, on or before the final filing date specified on the job announcement. Failure to submit the required credentials (DD-214) prior to the final filing date will be deemed a waiver of credits. EXAMINATION INFORMATION If supplemental questions are included as a part of this job bulletin, applicants may be rated based upon their responses to the supplemental questions. If rated, only those that are determined to be highly qualified will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. SPECIAL TESTING ARRANGEMENTS Special testing arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants for disability, military, or religious reasons. If you require such arrangements, please contact CPS HR Consulting at mss@cpshr.us or 916-471-3507 upon notification that your application has been approved. Documentation from medical, military, school, or church officials outlining the accommodation request must be received by our office a minimum of five business days prior to a scheduled examination. ABOUT MERCED COUNTY Merced County is located in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley in central California, an area earning worldwide acclaim for its rich agriculture, and spans from the coastal ranges to the foothills of Yosemite National Park. The City of Merced, the self-proclaimed Gateway to Yosemite, has a population of approximately 81,102, yet retains the charm of a small town with amenities routinely found in larger communities. Merced's revitalized downtown is emerging as the entertainment center of the area. The County is representative of the rural heartland and Gold Rush remnants underpinning the state's heritage. It is a peaceful, quiet, and friendly area with an abundance of beautiful bike paths, and offers choices of higher education in UC Merced and Merced College. From a political perspective, Merced County is considered to be a bellwether county, having voted for the successful presidential candidate in every election from 1972 to 2012. Closing Date/Time: Continuous