A big thank you to all of the Counties, staff, and programs that entered the 2021 Challenge Awards! Our judging panel reviewed 433 entries — the most in the history of the program — spotlighting the most innovative programs developed by California’s Counties this past year.

In all, CSAC is honoring 52 programs from 22 different counties, including: 3 Innovation Awards, 21 Challenge Awards and 28 Merit Awards. These recipients showcased the amazing creative and collaborative solutions being utilized across topics, such as the pandemic, homelessness, voter access, technical assistance, organic waste, employee wellness, cannabis, and more.

The programs developed by Madera, Orange and Sonoma Counties have been selected as recipients of the California Counties Innovation Award, which is presented to the most ingenious programs across all categories.

To learn more about all the award-winning programs, click on the tabs below and read their submitted summaries.

In 2022, a press release will announce all award recipients and physical awards will be mailed. Staff are also working on additional marketing strategies to further showcase these programs.

Innovation Award Recipients

• RURAL
  • Madera County - Backpack Literacy Project
• SUBURBAN
  • Sonoma County - COVID-19 Wellness Check App
• URBAN
  • Orange County - Hitched at Honda Center

Challenge Award Recipients

  Administration of justice

• RURAL
  • Humboldt County - The Next Step Program
• SUBURBAN
  • Yolo County - Commons Transparency Portal
• URBAN
  • Ventura County - Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Program

  disaster/emergency response & management

• RURAL
  • Humboldt County - Interactive Video for Certifying Business Reopening
• SUBURBAN
  • Placer County - Breaking Through the ERA Log Jam
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County – Safe Presidential Election Plan
  • Los Angeles County – A Safe Return: School Technical Assistance Team

  Environment & Natural Resources

• RURAL
  • Tuolumne County - Resilience through Shared Forest Stewardship
• SUBURBAN
  • San Luis Obispo County - Dairy Creek Innovation Project
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County - Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park Renovation

  Government Finance, Administration & Technology

• RURAL
  • Nevada County - Internship Program
• SUBURBAN
  • Monterey County – Car Week
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County - Expanding Voter Access through Same Day Registration
  • Los Angeles County - Take-Home Tech: Laptop & Hotspot Loans

  Health & Human Services

• RURAL
  • Lassen County - Fatherhood Initiative Outreach ”The Brandon Story”
• SUBURBAN
  • Marin County - Enhanced Behavioral Health in the Justice System
• URBAN
  • Riverside County - RUHS Public Health Perinatal Equity Initiative
  • Riverside County - Take My Hand Live Peer Chat
  • San Diego County - Fostering Academic Success in Education (FASE)

  Housing, Land Use & Infrastructure

• RURAL
  • No Award Given
• SUBURBAN
  • Santa Barbara County - Cannabis Retail Storefront Outreach Program
• URBAN
  • San Diego County - Rapid ERAP Implementation Provides Help When Needed

Merit Award Recipients

  ADministration of justice

• RURAL
  • Amador County - Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Program
• SUBURBAN
  • Kern County - Re-Entry ADA and Programming (RAP) Unit
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County - Mental Health Housing Court Program
  • San Bernardino County - Enhanced Retail Motor Fuel Device Inspection

  disaster/emergency response & management

• RURAL
  • Nevada County - Emergency Sheltering
• SUBURBAN
  • Santa Barbara County - Latinx and Indigenous Migrant COVID-19 Response
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County – L.A. Supervisorial District 1 Economic Aid Program
  • Ventura County - Reimagining Mass Care and Shelter

  environment & natural resources

• RURAL
  • No Award Given
• SUBURBAN
  • Yolo County - Cannabis Program
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County - Pack In, Pack Out Trash Reduction Program
  • Orange County - OCWR’s World-Class Organic Waste Management Infrastructure

  government finance, administration & technology

• RURAL
  • Nevada County - Budget Tools and Training Program
• SUBURBAN
  • Santa Cruz County - County Operational Plan Strategy Into Action
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County - Work Ready: Career Development Program
  • Riverside County -  P3 Library Projects
  • Riverside County - Library Connect
  • San Bernardino County - GIS Technology for COVID Compliant Business Program
  • Santa Clara County - Voluntary Vendor Cost Reduction Initiative

  health & human services

• RURAL
  • Nevada County - Rapid Response Team
• SUBURBAN
  • Placer County - Resource Huddle Reimagining Engagement for CalWORKs Customers
  • Santa Cruz County – Treating Addiction Through Peer Mentors
• URBAN
  • Riverside County – Humanitarian Aid to Asylum Seekers
  • San Bernardino County - COVID-19 Vaccine Redistribution Hub
  • San Diego County - Operationalizing a Sector-specific Approach During a Pandemic
  • San Diego County - Using Non-Traditional Data to Understand COVID-19 Locally
  • Santa Clara County - The SSA Voice Videocast
  • Ventura County - Encampment Outreach-Meeting People Where They Are

  housing, land use & infrastructure

• RURAL
  • No Award Given
• SUBURBAN
  • No Award Given
• URBAN
  • Los Angeles County - The L.A. County Space Management Initiative