California’s counties continue to show they are up for any challenge. 18 counties are being recognized this year with Challenge and Merit Awards, including the California Counties Innovation Award, which is being presented to Alameda County.

The annual Challenge Awards program was created by CSAC in the mid-1990s. Since that time, it has grown in popularity. The award-winning programs are just a sampling of the creativity and leadership demonstrated each day by our counties. More than entries were evaluated this year by an independent panel of judges closely affiliated with California counties and the programs and services they deliver.

CSAC congratulates all of the recipients for their work. CSAC staff will be making in-person presentations at Boards of Supervisors meetings in the counties that received Innovation and Challenge Awards. Challenge Award-winning programs will also be the focus of a series of videos that CSAC will produce for next year’s National County Government Month.

California Counties Innovation Award

Alameda County
Dig Deep Farms & Produce

Challenge Awards

Under 50,000

Lassen County
Building a Meaningful Relationship

50,001 to 200,000

Humboldt County
Interactive Multi-Site Community Meeting

Nevada County
Nevada County Collaborative Technology Center

200,001 to 700,000

Sonoma County
Youth Ecology Corps

Stanislaus County
Employee Mentor Program (EMP)

700,001 and Above

Alameda County
Engaging 20 Agencies in Climate Action Implementation

Los Angeles County
Care Clinic Innovation – Long Beach Mental Health

Sacramento County
Break Away Bike Program at Sacramento County Adult Drug Court

San Bernardino County
Fire Crew Program

San Diego County
Accela Automation Implementation

Ventura County
Digitized Business Reply Mail

Merit Awards

Under 50,000

Alpine County
Memorandum of Understanding with the Washoe Tribe

50,000 to 200,000

Humboldt County
DHHS Mobile Outreach

200,001 to 700,000

Merced County
Leadership for Life Program

Placer County
Co-Occurring Full Service Partnership

Placer County
Improving Service to Our Community

Placer County
Integration of Older Adult Services

San Luis Obispo County
Transitional Age Youth Financial Assistance Program

Tulare County
Step Up #Lead Program

700,001 and Above

Alameda County
Alameda County Assessor Canvassing App (BizChek)

Alameda County
Human Exploitation & Trafficking Watch Community Initiatives

Los Angeles County
Mileage Authorization and Reimbursement System (MARS)

Orange County
Sharing Services to Benefit Assessors & Taxpayers

Orange County
Haster Basin Recreation Park

Orange County
OC Grip Parent Greeter Program

Orange County
Santiago Library System Courtesy Delivery Service

Orange County
Saturday Marriages Openings

Orange County
The Theo Lacy Jail Facility Sustainability Project

Riverside County
Faith in Motion – Organizing to Help Kids

Riverside County
Project HOME

Sacramento County
Rental Housing Inspection Program

San Bernardino County
Campaign to End Human Trafficking

San Bernardino County
Demonstration Property Project

San Diego County
Embedding Eligibility Workers at Local Food Banks

San Diego County
Online Building Permits

San Diego County
Paperless Performance Appraisals

San Diego County
Plan to Eliminate Homelessness for Families

San Diego County
San Diego Emergency Smart Phone Application

San Diego County
Sheriff’s Analysis Driven Law Enforcement (SADLE)

Ventura County
District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Program