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Please watch a short video about the program here.

When Adult Protective Services specialist Kimberly Ingram talks about San Diego County’s protocols to help protect acutely vulnerable adults, her eyes well up. She knows that these innovative protocols are making a difference – and saving lives.  That’s a major reason why this program was honored in 2015 with CSAC’s “California Counties Innovation Award.”

Please watch a video about the STAR Court here.

On the eighth floor of the Compton Courthouse, Los Angeles County Judge Catherine Pratt bangs her gavel and gets to work. Teenaged girls, some even as young as 10 years old, are brought before her, charged with prostitution, as their lives hang in the balance. In the past, these girls would have been dragged into the courtroom in handcuffs and treated like criminals. Now, as our understanding of the true nature of this crime has evolved, we are treating them as the victims of a manipulative and heinous act. Leading our efforts is Judge Pratt, the shining star of the County’s STAR (Succeeding Through Achievement and Resilience) Court, a uniquely dedicated courtroom that works exclusively with victims of child sex trafficking.

Please watch a video of the program here.

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“He who has shed blood with me on the battlefield will forever be my brother.”

It’s not typical to see William Shakespeare prominently quoted on a jail unit wall. Nor is it typical to see the unit decorated  with military flags and artwork. But this unit is not typical. It’s a rehabilitation and treatment program for incarcerated veterans developed by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the U.S Veterans Administration and community partners.

The goal of the program is reduce recidivism among veterans – and  it’s working.

California’s counties are incredibly diverse, but no matter their size, location, population or demographics, all 58 are grappling with the issue of homelessness. I recently testified at a State Capitol hearing on this complex issue. Homelessness has many causes, but two things are clear: counties are uniquely positioned to address homelessness, and we must collaborate with our cities and others to find housing solutions for all Californians.

National County Government Month (NCGM), an annual celebration of county government that takes place each April, is just around the corner.  Since 1991, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has encouraged counties across the country to take this opportunity to actively promote county services and programs, shining a light on the important role we play in our communities. This year is notable because it’s the 25^th anniversary of NCGM.

2-1-1 San Diego/Imperial recently celebrated the grand opening of the 2-1-1 Connections Center, the state-of-the-art facility equipped with incubator space to foster greater collaboration among community partners to create new and improved ways to better serve the community and expand a 2-1-1 person-centric model.

One of the best things about my job as CSAC’s communications coordinator is the people I get to meet. We are in the process now of producing videos to celebrate the recipients of our 2015 Challenge Awards. These are all programs that exemplify best practices, innovation, and effective delivery of vital county services.

Invariably, the people who design and implement these programs are smart, hardworking, forward-thinking people who are committed to doing what they do better. They are heroes to the people who need the services they provide. And then once in a while, you get to meet a real hero.

Imagine you are sitting on the cusp of an historic event – one that is unfolding slowly but with mighty force, and one that will last well past your lifetime. Imagine you have people in your communities who are desperately trying to tell you about these changes, and what they have to say is numbing, impossible to embrace. This is the story of climate change in 2016 – and with it, California’s long-term drought. 

In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties more than one third of the 2.5 million residents are immigrants with nearly 50 percent of the workforce being foreign born and over 240,000 “lawful permanent residents” eligible to become U.S. citizens. Though a large, vital part of the community, immigrant groups are often underrepresented in public processes. To help address this, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are partnering with the community to support immigrant integration and have recently created offices of immigrant affairs.