Social Affairs Department was established in 1995 as a division of administration of municipality. Afterwards, in 1997 Jelgava municipality implemented a project with Danish national association of municipalities with a task to establish more effective model of municipal management, thus Social affairs division was transformed into a department. Due to substantial changes in national legislation, since 2001 Social Affairs department acts as a municipal establishment.

Currently Social Affairs department has several divisions and manages various other establishments, namely,

• Addiction prevention centre – providing support to people suffering from all kinds of addiction
• Day centres “Integra” and “Atbalsts”– providing support to persons with mental illnesses
• Social and medical care centre
• Children and family support centre
• Night Shelter

Functions of Social Affairs Department include:

• organisation and management of social support services for citizens;
• provision of individual consultations for families or persons having social problems;
• social rehabilitation services at the place of residence for children who have suffered from illegitimate actions;
• cooperation with state and municipal institutions, non-governmental organisations and religious denominations, and other natural and legal persons in order to provide social support and health care.