Challenge Awards

• Only programs developed, managed, or funded by a county department or agency are eligible. A county must submit entries. Multi-county programs are eligible. Court-related programs must be coordinated or funded by a county.
• An entry can only be submitted in one category; if a program is inter-departmental, please mark the category that best reflects the nature of that program.
• Programs that have previously received a Challenge Award cannot be entered again.
• Programs for consideration are recommended to have been in operation for at least one year.  

(CSAC reserves the right to move an entry to a different category.)

Issue categories reflect the main priorities across CSAC’s platforms and policy areas. One issue area must be selected in the entry form; please choose carefully.  

• Administration of Justice & Public Safety – Includes local law enforcement and public safety programs, adult and juvenile detention, and probation.  

• Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources – Includes programs associated with agriculture, the environment, air quality, water, flood control, energy, parks and recreation, public lands, forestry, mining, endangered species, solid waste, and hazardous waste.  

• Government Finance, Administration & Technology – Includes programs associated with internal operations, employee training and wellness, workers’ compensation, public records, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology, economic development, libraries, elections, and food safety.  

• Health & Human Services – Includes programs associated with health care, mental health, homelessness, foster care, child welfare services, adult protective services, IHSS, general assistance, aging, CalWORKs, First 5 programs, county hospitals/medical facilities, the indigent, and veterans.  

• Housing, Land Use & Infrastructure – Includes programs associated with housing, land use, growth, planning, transportation, infrastructure, and tribal gaming issues.  

Please check the correct population category for your county in the entry form.  

• Rural – Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Plumas, San Benito, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yuba. 

• Suburban – Butte, Imperial, Kern, Marin, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare, Yolo. 

• Urban – Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Ventura. 

The Executive Summary must be attached to the application and contain:  

• No more than two pages (sized 8.5” x 11”); 

• Text that must be double-spaced and no smaller than size 11 font; AND 

• Include contact information 

• Does the Executive Summary clearly state the challenge and solution?  

• Does the program showcase innovation, resourcefulness, vision, and uniqueness?  

• Has the program enhanced the community and organization? What are the results?  

• Is the program replicable, and how easy would it be?  

• Does the entry conform to the application instructions in the “Entry Instructions” section?