Once again, California’s counties showed they are up for the challenge. This year, CSAC is honoring 18 counties with Challenge and Merit Awards, including two — Nevada and Stanislaus — with the top honor: the California Counties Innovation Award.

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. All 220 Challenge Award entries were evaluated 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

Nevada County – Innovative Approaches to Children’s Mental Health Services

Stanislaus County – Clean and Sober Living: A Unique Partnership

Challenge Awards

Population Under 50,000

Mono County – Taking on Health Care Reform: Pioneers in a Frontier County

50,000 to 200,000

Tehama County – AB 109 Auto Shop – Changing Lives

200,001 to 700,000

Sonoma County – Juvenile Hall Boys and Girls Club

Tulare County – Teen Digital Media Lab

700,0001 and Above

Riverside County – Prevention & Early Intervention Mental Health Mobile Services

Riverside County – Reducing SSI, Increasing Patient Safety

Sacramento County – SACVOTE Mobile Application

San Bernardino County – Making Attendance a Priority (MAP)

San Bernardino County – West Nile Virus Aerial Surveillance Collaboration

Ventura County – iCop Mobile Crime Fighting App

Merit Awards

Under 50,000

No Award Given

50,000 to 200,000

Nevada County – Social Security Benefits Advocate Program

200,001 to 700,000

Butte County – Behavioral Health Strengthening Families Program

San Luis Obispo County – WIC Dental Days

Santa Cruz County – Santa Cruz County Custody Alternative Program

Tulare County – Your Library in More Places

700,001 and Above

Alameda County – Open Data Sharing Initiative

Alameda County – District’s Attorney’s Justice Academy

Fresno County – Fresno County Lobby Modernization & Improved Client Experience

Los Angeles County – Del Aire Fruit Park

Los Angeles County – Veteran System Navigators Services

Orange County – ProgPay Computer Application System

Riverside County – Environmental Site Assessment and Risk Evaluation Tools

Riverside County – Helping Individuals Realize Employment (HIRE) Program

Riverside County – Individual Prevention Services Program

Riverside County – Green Pathways = Green Paydays

San Bernardino County – Customer Service Center

San Bernardino County – Preschool Referral Project

San Bernardino County – Superior Court On-Call Warrants

San Diego County – Blueprint: Comprehensive Services for Homeless Mentally Ill

San Diego County – Live Well San Diego

San Diego County – Technology & Aging Coalition

Ventura County – Human Services Agency Electronic Case Management System